o 


vn 


VJ 


-  * 


flfc  JtFranklin  taking  home  his  paper. 


Reconciliation  of  Franklin  with  his  Brother 


THE 

LIFE 


BENJAMIN    FRANKLIN. 


ILLUSTRATED    BY 

TALES,  SKETCHES,  AND  ANECDOTES. 


ADAPTED  TO  THE  USE  OF  SCHOOLS. 


WITH   ENGRAVINGS. 

— »©«~- 

PHILADELPHIA : 

THOMAS,  COWPERTHWAIT  &  CO. 

NO.    253    MARKET   STREET. 

1838. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  one  thousand 
eight  hundred  and  thirty-two,  by  SAMUEL  G.  GOODRICH,  in  the 
Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  Massachusetts. 


+fo 


PREFACE. 


THE  following  Preface  to  the  Life  of  Columbus  will 
explain  the  plan  of  the  series,  of  which  this  is  the  third 
volume  : — 

"  There  is  no  kind  of  reading  more  attractive  than  biogra 
phy,  and,  if  properly  treated,  there  is  none  more  instructive. 
It  appears,  therefore,  to  be  peculiarly  fitted  to  the  purposes 
of  education ;  it  readily  excites  the  curiosity  and  awakens 
the  interest  of  the  pupil,  and,  while  it  stores  his  mind  with 
facts,  dates  and  events,  displays  to  his  view  the  workings 
of  the  human  heart,  and  makes  him  better  acquainted  with 
himself  and  mankind. 

"  In  the  selection  of  subjects  for  a  biographical  series  of 
works  for  youth,  the  editor  has  been  led,  by  two  consider 
ations,  to  prefer  those  which  .belong  to  our  own  country. 
In  the  first  place,  it  is  more  particularly  necessary  that  our 
youth  should  be  made  acquainted  with  the  lives  of  those 
men  who  were  associated  with  the  history  of  their  native 

land ;  and,  in  the  second  j^ace,  no  country  tan  afford  hap- 

*'' 


6  PREFACE. 

pier  subjects  for  biography  than  this.  There  are  few  such 
lives  as  those  of  Columbus,  Washington,  and  Franklin,  in 
the  annals  of  any  nation. 

"  In  the  preparation  of  the  work,  the  author  has  sought 
to  adapt  it  to  youth,  by  the  use  of  a  simple  style,  and  by 
the  introduction  of  many  illustrative  tales,  sketches,  anec 
dotes  and  adventures.  Questions  for  examining  the  pupils 
are  printed  in  the  pages,  which  may  be  used,  or  not,  at  the 
choice  of  the  Teacher." 

The  Life  of  Columbus  and  the  Life  of  Washington,  on  a 
plan  similar  to  this,  have  been  already  published ;  and  other 
volumes,  containing  the  lives  of  celebrated  Indian  Chiefs, 
celebrated  American  Statesmen,  &c.,  will  appeal  here 
after,  if  those  already  in  progress  should  meet  with  suc 
cess. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Page 

Birth  of  Franklin.  Early  Education.  Anecdote. 
Choice  of  a  Trade.  He  is  placed  with  a  Cutler.  His 
Fondness  for  Reading.  Bound  Apprentice  to  his 
Brother.  Makes  a  Couple  of  Ballads.  His  Friend 
Collins.  Reads  the  Spectator 11 

CHAPTER  II.   „ 

Franklin  gives  up  eating  Meat.  His  Economy  of 
Time.  Studies  Arithmetic.  James  Franklin  estab 
lishes  a  Newspaper.  Benjamin  writes  for  it.  His 
Brother  is  imprisoned.  Benjamin  manages  the 
Paper.  Leaves  his  Brother.  Goes  to  New  York 
Sails  thence  for  Philadelphia.  Anecdote  of  the 
Dutchman 19 

CHAPTER  III. 

His  Journey.  His  Dinner  with  the  old  Ginger 
bread  Woman.  Arrives  in  Philadelphia.  Anec 
dote  of  the  Rolls.  Attends  the  Meeting  House  of 
the  Quakers.  Suspected  of  being  a  Runaway. 
Employed  by  Keimer.  Noticed  by  Governor  Keith. 
Visit  to  Boston.  Return 27 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Finds  his  Friend  Collins  in  New  York.  Visit,  to  the 
Governor.  Promises  from  Governor  Keith.  Pro 
ject  of  a  new  rejigious  Sect.  Anecdote  of  Keimer 
and  the  roast  Pig.  His  principal  Acquaintance. 
A  literary  Trick.  Prepares  to  go  to  London.  The 
Governor's  Deception.  Arrival  in  London 35 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  V. 

Troubled  by  his  Friend  Ralph.  Obtains  Employ 
ment.  Ralph  turns  Schoolmaster,  and  begins  an 
Epic  Poem.  Franklin  teaches  some  of  his  Friends 
to  swim.  Anecdote  of  Mr.  Denham.  Return  to 
Philadelphia.  Story  of  George  Webb.  Franklin 
quarrels  with  Keimer.  Returns  to  work  for  him. 
Employed  at  Burlington.  Leaves  Keimer 43 

CHAPTER  VI 

The  Junto.  A  new  Paper  started  by  Keimer.  Frank 
lin  purchases  it.  Difficulties  in  their  Business.  A 
Dissolution  of  the  Partnership.  Franklin  assisted 
by  his  Friends.  David  Harry.  Match-making. 
Marriage  with  Miss  Read 50 

CHAPTER  VII. 

Library  of  the  Junto.  A  public  Library  estab 
lished.  Franklin  studies.  His  Frugality.  Anec 
dote  of  the  Bowl  and  Spoon.  His  Scheme  of 
arriving  at  Moral  Perfection.  Table  of  Precepts. 
Franklin's  Remarks  upon  it.  Poor  Richard's  Al 
manac 57 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Management  of  his  Newspaper.  Study  of  the  Lan 
guages.  Chess-playing.  The  Preacher  Hemphill. 
Stealing  Sermons,  visit  to  Boston  Visits  his 
Brother  James  at  Newport.  Usefulness  of  the 
Junto.  Formation  of  new  Clubs.  Franklin  chosen 
Clerk  of  the  General  Assembly.  Anecdote 65 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Reform  of  the  City  Watch.  Fire  Companies.  Rev. 
Mr.  Whitefield.  Effects  of  his  Preaching.  His  Pro 
ject  of  building  an  Orphan  House  in  Georgia.  An 
ecdotes.  Franklin's  Opinion  of  him.  Franklin's 
Prosperity.  Military  Defence  of  the  Province. 
Formation  of  Companies 72 


CONTENTS,  9 


CHAPTER  X. 

Anecdote.  William  Penn.  Education  of  Youth. 
Subscription  for  an  Academy.  Franklin  overloaded 
with  public  Offices.  Member  of  the  Assembly. 
Treaty  with  the  Indians  at  Carlisle.  Public  Hospi 
tal.  Anecdote 82 

CHAPTER  XI. 

Spence's  Experiments  in  Electricity.  Franklin  re 
peats  them.  Makes  important  Discoveries.  Letters 
to  Collinson.  Experiment  with  the  Kite.  Publica 
tion  of  his  Letters.  Anecdote  of  the  Abbe  Nollet. 
Fame  of  Franklin.  Elected  a  Member  of  the  Royal 
Society 90 

CHAPTER  XII. 

Appointed  Postmaster-General.  Journey  to  New 
England.  Receives  Degrees  from  two  Colleges. 
Story  of  the  Visit  to  his  Mother 97 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

Congress  at  Albany.  Plan  for  a  Union  of  the  Col 
onies.  Arrival  of  General  Braddock.  Franklin 
sent  to  him  by  the  Assembly.  Want  of  Wagons. 
Franklin  undertakes  to  procure  them.  His  Adver 
tisement.  Anecdote  of  Braddock.  Battle  with  the 
Indians.  Retreat 105 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

Settlement  for  the  Loss  of  Wagons.  Anecdote. 
Preparations  for  Defence.  Franklin  appointed  to  a 
military  Command.  Assembles  the  Troops  at  Beth 
lehem.  Farmers  killed  by  Indians.  Building  Forts. 
Extracts  from  Franklin's  Journal.  Indian  Cunning. 
Anecdotes  of  the  Moravians 113 

CHAPTER  XV. 

Disputes  with  the  Proprietaries.  Franklin  sent  by  the 
Assembly  to  London.  Appointed  general  Agent  for 
the  Colonies.  University  Honors.  The  Armonica. 

Murder  of  the  friendly  Indians 124 

A2 


10 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

Franklin  reappointed  Agent  at  the  Court  of  Great 
Britain.  Visits  Germany  and  France.  Returns  to 
Philadelphia.  Appointed  Delegate  to  Congress. 
Interview  with  Lord  Howe.  Sent  as  Ambassador 
to  France.  Asks  to  be  recalled.  Chosen  President 
of  the  Supreme  Council  of  Philadelphia.  Death. 
Character 


130 


ESSAYS  OF  DR.  FRANKLIN. 

The  Whistle 136 

Handsome  and  Deformed  Leg 138 

Advice  to  a  young  Tradesman 142 

Necessary  Hints  to  those  that  would  be  rich 145 

Paper,  a  Poem 146 

On  the  art  of  Swimming 149 

Preliminary  Address  to  the  Pennsylvania  Almanac,  en 
titled,  "  Poor  Richard's  Almanac,  for  the  year  1758."  153 

Observations  on  War 167 

The  Way   to   make  Money   plenty   in    every  Man's 

Pocket 169 

Morals  of  Chess 171 

Conversation  of  a  Company  of  Ephemera 177 


LIFE    OF    FRANKLIN. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Birth  of  Franklin.  Early  Education.  Anecdote. 
Choice  of  a  Tirade.  He  is  placed  with  a  Cutler.  His 
Fondness  for  Reading.  Bound  Apprentice  to  his 
Brother.  Makes  a  couple  of  Ballads.  His  Friend 
Collins.  Reads  the  Spectator. 

1.  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN  was  born  in  Boston,  New 
England,  on  the  seventeenth  of  January,  1706.    He 
was  the  youngest  son  in  a  family  of  seventeen  chil 
dren.     His  elder  brothers  were,  at  an  early  age,  put 
apprentices  to  different  trades ;  for  their  father  was 
a  man  of  honest  industry,  but  with  little  or  no 
property,  and  unable  to   support  the  expense  of 
keeping  them  long  at  school. 

2.  Benjamin,   however,   was    intended   for   the  f 
church,  and  at  eight  years  of  age  was  put  to  a  gram-  * 

1.  Where  was  Franklin  born  ?    When  ?   2.  For  what  profession 
did  his  parents  intend  to  educate  him  ? 


12  LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN. 

mar  school.  His  readiness  in  learning,  and  his 
attention  to  study,  confirmed  the  first  intention  of 
his  parents.  The  plan  also  met  with  the  approba 
tion  of  his  uncle  Benjamin,  who  promised  to  give 
him  some  volumes  of  sermons  that  he  had  taken 
down  in  short  hand,  from  the  lips  of  the  most  emi 
nent  preachers  of  the  day. 

3.  He  continued' at  the  grammar  school,  however, 
only  about  a  year,  though  he  had  risen  to  the  head 
of  his  class,  and  promised  to  be  a  very  fine  scholar. 
His  father  was  burthened  with  a  numerous  family, 
and  could  not  carry  him  through  a  course  of  college 
education.     He  accordingly  changed  his  first  pur 
pose,  and  sent  Benjamin  to  a  school  for  writing  and 
arithmetic,  kept  by  Mr.  George  Brownwell. 

4.  This  master  was  quite  skilful  in  his  profession, 
being  mild  and  kind  to  his  scholars,  but  very  suc 
cessful   in   teaching  them.      Benjamin  learned  to 
write  a  good  hand  in  a  short  time,  but  he  could  not 
manage  arithmetic  so  easily.     At  ten  years  of  age 
he  was  taken  from   school  to   help  his  father  in 
the  business  of  a  tallow-chandler ;  and  was  employed 
in  cutting  the  wick  for  the  candles,  going  errands, 
and  tending  the  shop. 

5.  Benjamin  disliked  the  trade,  and  had  a  strong 
inclination  to  go  to  sea ;  but  his  father  opposed  his 
wishes  in  this  respect,  and  determined  to  keep  him 
at  home.     The  house  in  which  he  lived  happened 

3.  What  induced  his  father  to  change  his  intention?    4.  To 
what  trade  was  Benjamin  put,  and  when  ? 


LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN  13 

to  be  near  the  water,  and  Benjamin  was  always 
playing  with  boats,  and  swimming.  When  sailing 
with  other  boys,  he  was  usually  the  leader,  and  he 
confesses  that  he  sometimes  led  them  into  diffi 
culties. 

6.  There  was  a  salt  marsh  which  bounded  part 
of  the  mill-pond,  on  the  edge  of  which  the  boys  used 
to  stand  to  fish  for  minnows.     They  had  trampled 
it  so  much,  however,  as  to  make  it  a  mere  quagmire. 
Franklin  proposed  to  his  friends  to  build  a  wharf 
there,  for  them  to  stand  upon  ;  and  showed  them  a 
large  heap  of  stones,  which  were  intended  for  a  new 
house  near  the  marsh,  and  would  answer  their  pur 
pose  exactly. 

7.  Accordingly,  that  evening,  when  the  workmen 
were  gone  home,  he  assembled  a  number  of  his 
playfellows,   and   they   worked   diligently,  like   so 
many  emmets,  sometimes  two  or  three  to  a  stone, 
till  they  had  brought  them  all  to  make  their  little 
wharf.     On  the  next  morning,  the  workmen  were 
surprised  on  missing  the  stones.     The  authors  of 
the  removal  were  detected,  complained  of,  and  pun 
ished  by  their  parents.     Franklin  attempted  to  show 
the  usefulness  of  their  work ;  but  his  father  took 
that  occasion  to  convince  him,  that  that  which  was 
not  truly  honest  could  not  be  truly  useful. 

8.  Benjamin  continued  employed  in  the  business 


6.  Relate  the  anecdote  about  Franklin  and  his  companions.  7. 
What  maxim  did  his  father  teach  him  in 'consequence  of  this  ad 
venture  ? 

2 


14  LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN. 

of  his  father  about  two  years,  that  is,  till  he  was 
twelve  years  old.  His  brother  John,  who  had  also 
been  brought  up  to  the  trade,  had  left  his  father, 
married,  and  set  up  for  himself  in  Rhode  Island 
There  was  now  every  appearance  that  Benjamin 
Was  destined  to  become  a  tallow-chandler.  As  his 
dislike  to  the  trade  continued,  his  father  was  afraid 
that,  if  he  did  not  put  Benjamin  to  one  that  was  more 
agreeable,  he  would  run  away,  and  go  to  sea,  as  an 
elder  brother  of  his  had  done.  In  consequence  of 
this  apprehension,  he  used  to  take  him  to  walk,  to 
see  joiners,  bricklayers,  turners  and  braziers  at 
their  work,  that  he  might  observe  his  inclination, 
and  fix  it  on  some  trade  or  profession  that  would 
keep  him  on  land. 

9.  His  father  at  length  determined  on  the  cutler's 
trade,  and  placed  him  for  some  days  on  trial  with 
his  cousin  Samuel,  who  was  bred  to  that  trade  in 
London,  and  had  just  established  himself  in  Boston. 
It  was  then  usual  to  ask  a  sum  of  money  for  receiv 
ing  an  apprentice,  and  the  cutler  charged  so  much 
for  taking  Benjamin,  that  his  father  was  displeased, 
and  put  him  to  his  old  business  again. 

10.  From  his  infancy  Benjamin  had  been  pas 
sionately  fond  of  reading ;  and  all  the  money  that 
he  could  get  was  laid  out  in  purchasing  books.     He 
was  very  fond  of  voyages  and  travels.     The  dangers 

8.  What  were  his  father's  fears  in  relation  to  his  new  occupation  ? 
9.  On  what  trade  did  his  father  finally  determine  ?  10.  Describe 
his  early  fondness  for  reading,  and  the  books  of  which  Le  waa 
most  fond. 


LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN.  15 

and  adventures  of  sailors  in  the  different  parts  of  the 
world,  and  stories  of  the  strange  people  and  customs 
they  met  with,  he  would  always  read  with  delight. 

11.  The  first  books  that  he  was  able  to  buy  were 
the  works  of  a  famous  old  English  writer,  named 
John  Bunyan.     These  he  afterwards  sold,  in  order 
to  purchase  some  volumes  of  Historical  Collections. 
His  father's  library  consisted  principally  of  works 
on  divinity,  most  of  which  he  read  at  an  early  age. 
Beside  these,  there  was  a  book  by  De  Foe,  the  au 
thor  of  Robinson  Crusoe ;  and  another  called  An 
Essay  to  do  Good,  by  Dr.  Mather,  an  old  New 
England  divine. 

12.  This  fondness  for  books  at  length  determined 
his  father  to  bring  him  up  as  a  printer,  though  he 
had  already  one  son  in  that  employment.     In  1717, 
this  son  returned  from  England  with  a  press  and 
letters  to  set  up  his  business  in  Boston.     Benjamin 
liked  this  trade  much  better  than  that  of  his  father, 
but  still  had  a  desire  to  go  to  sea.     To  prevent  this 
step,  his  father  was  impatient  to  have  him  bound 
apprentice  to  his  brother,  and  at  length  persuaded 
him  to  consent  to  it. 

13.  He  was  to  serve  as  apprentice  till  he  was 
twenty-one  years  of  age,  and  during  the  last  year 
was  to  be  allowed  the  wages  of  a  journeyman.     In 
a  little  time,  he  made  great  progress  in  the  business, 

11.  What  books  did  he  first  buy  ?  12.  What  induced  his  father 
to  bring  up  Benjamin  as  a  printer  ?  To  whom  was  he  bound  ap 
prentice  ?  13.  How  did  he  succeed  in  his  new  trade  7 


16 


LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN. 


,.   ,.',;,,; 


Franklin  reading  at  niyhu 


LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN.  17 

and  became  quite  useful.  He  was  now  able  to  ob 
tain  better  books.  An  acquaintance  with  the  ap 
prentices  of  the  booksellers  sometimes  enabled  him 
to  Borrow  a  small  one,  which  he  was  careful  to  re 
turn  clean  and  in  good  season.  He  often  sat  up  in 
his  chamber  the  greater  part  of  the  night,  to  read 
a  book  that  he  was  obliged  to  return  in  the  morning. 

14.  After  some  time,  an  ingenious  and  sensible 
merchant,  Mr.  Matthew  Adams,  who  had  a  pretty 
collection  of  books,  took  notice  of  Franklin  at  the 
printing  office,  and  invited  him  to  see  his  library. 
He  very  kindly  offered  to  lend  him  any  work  that 
he  might  like  to  read. 

15.  He  now  took  a  strong  inclination  for  poetry, 
and  wrote  some  little  pieces.     His  brother  supposed 
that  he  might  use  this  talent  to  advantage,  and  en 
couraged  him  to  cultivate  it.     About  this  time,  he 
produced  two  ballads.     One  was  called  the  Light- 
House  Tragedy,  and  contained  an  account  of  the 
shipwreck   of  Captain  Worthilake,  with   his  two 
daughters;   the  other  was  a  sailor's  song,  on  the 
taking  of  the  famous  Blackbeard,  the  pirate. 

16.  They  were  written  in  the  doggerel  street-bal 
lad  style,  and  when  they  were  printed,  his  brother 
sent  Benjamin  about  the  town  to  sell  them.     The 
first  sold  very  rapidly,  as  the  event  on  which  it  was 
founded  had  recently  occurred,  and  made  a  great 

What  advantages  did  it  afford  him  for  pursuing  his  studies  ?  15. 
Relate  the  account  of  his  first  attempts  in  poetry.  16.  How  did 
his  ballads  succeed  ? 

2* 


19  LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN. 

deal  of  noise.  This  success  flattered  his  vanity  very 
much,  but  his  father  discouraged  him  by  criticising 
his  ballads,  and  telling  him  that  verse-makers  were 
generally  beggars. 

17.  This  prevented  him  from  giving  any  further 
attention  to  poetry,  and  led  him  to  devote  more  time 
and  care  to  prose  compositions.     He  was  at  this 
time  intimately  acquainted  with  another  lad  very 
fond  of  books,  named  John  Collins.     They  some 
times  discussed  different   questions   together,  and 
had  become  very  apt  to  indulge  in  arguments  and 
disputes. 

18.  A  question  was  once  started  between  them, 
on  the  propriety  of  educating  the  female   sex  in 
learned  studies,  and  their  abilities  for  these  studies. 
As  they  parted  without  settling  the  point,  and  were 
not  to  see  one  another  again  for  a  long  time,  Frank 
lin  sat  down  to  put  his  arguments  in  writing.     He 
then  made  a  fair  copy  of  them,  and  sent  it  to  Collins. 

19.  Three  or  four  letters  passed  between  them 
on  the  subject,  when  the  father  of  Franklin  hap 
pened  to  find  the  papers,  and  read  them.     Without 
entering  into  the  subject  in  dispute,  he  took  occa 
sion  to  talk  to  him  about  his  manner  of  writing. 
He  marked  the  defects  in  his  expressions,  and  in 
the  arrangement  of  his  sentences,  but  gave  him  the 
credit  of  spelling  and  pointing  with  great  correct- 
How  did  his  father  discourage  his  new  taste  ?     18.  What  was 

the  subject  of  his  discussion  with  his  friend  Collins?  19.  What 
praise  and  advice  did  his  father  give  him  on  this  occasion  ? 


LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN.  19 

ness.  This  he  had  learned  in  the  printiwg  office, 
but  he  had  never  before  been  taught  any  thing 
about  manner  and  style. 

20.  About  this  time,  he  met  with  an  odd  volume 
of  the  Spectator,  a  very  famous  work,  published  by 
several  English  wits  in  the  year  1711.  He  bought 
it,  read  it  over  and  over,  and  was  much  delighted 
with  it.  This  book  was  now  his  continual  study, 
and  he  himself  tried  to  write  as  much  as  possible  in 
its  very  pleasant  and  popular  style.  The  improve 
ment  which  he  made  was  encouraging,  and  led  him 
to  hope  he  might  some  day  become  a  good  English 
writer;  a  distinction  of  which  he  was  very  ambi 
tious. 


CHAPTER   II. 

Franklin  gives  up  eating  Meat.  His  Economy  of  Time. 
Studies  Arithmetic.  James  Franklin  establishes  a 
Newspaper.  Benjamin  writes  for  it.  His  Brother  is 
imprisoned.  Benjamin  manages  the  Paper.  Leaves 
his  Brother.  Goes  to  Neiv  York.  Sails  thence  for 
Philadelphia.  Anecdote  of  the  Dutchman. 

1.  WHEN  about  sixteen  years  of  age,  Franklin 
happened  to  meet  with  a  book  that  recommended 
a  vegetable  diet.  He  determined  to  adopt  it.  His 

20.  With  what  book  was  Franklin  at  this  time  so  much  pleased  ? 
Did  he  attempt  to  imitate  it  ? 

1.  What  induced  Franklin  to  adopt  a  vegetable  diet? 


20  LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN. 

brother,  being  unmarried,  did  not  keep  house,  but 
boarded  himself  and  his  apprentices  in  another 
family.  By  refusing  to  eat  meat,  Franklin  occa 
sioned  a  good  deal  of  inconvenience ;  and  he  was 
frequently  chid  for  his  singularity.  He  accordingly 
learned  the  manner  of  boiling  potatoes  and  rice,  and 
of  making  hasty-pudding,  and  then  proposed  to  his 
brother,  if  he  would  give  him,  weekly,  half  the  money 
he  paid  for  his  board,  to  board  himself.  His  brother 
instantly  agreed  to  it,  and  Franklin  soon  found  that 
he  could  save  half  of  what  he  received. 

2.  This  was  a  new  fund  for  buying  books.     But 
this  was  not  the  only  advantage.     When  his  brother 
and  the  apprentices  had  gone  to  their  meals,  he  was 
left  in  the  printing  office  alone.     He  immediately 
despatched  his  slight  repast,  which  was  often  no 
more  than  a  biscuit,  or  a  slice  of  bread  and  a  hand 
ful  of  raisins,  or  a  tart  from  the  pastry  cook's,  and 
a  glass  of  water,  and  had  the  rest  of  the  time  till 
their  return  for  study.     By  being  thus  economical 
of  his  time,  he  was  able  to  make  considerable  prog 
ress  in  his  books. 

3.  He  now  began  to  feel  the  want  of  a  knowl 
edge  of  figures,  and  was  once  very  much  mortified 
by  his  ignorance  of  them.     As  he  had  entirely  failed 
of  learning  them  at  school,  he  took  Cocker's  Arith 
metic,  and  went  through  the  whole  of  it  by  himself 

What  arrangement  did  he  make  with  his  brother  on  this  ac 
count  ?  2.  What  advantage  resulted  from  this  ?  Describe  Ben 
jamin's  economy  of  time.  3.  How  did  he  learn  arithmetic  ? 


LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN.  21 

with  the  greatest  ease.  The  mortification  he  had 
met  with  induced  him  to  make  great  exertions ;  and 
we  can  succeed  in  any  thing  to  which  we  give  our 
earnest  attention. 

4.  While  he  was  intent  on  improving  his  lan 
guage  and   style,  Franklin  met  with  an  English 
grammar,  at   the  end  of  which  were  two  little 
sketches  on  the  arts  of  rhetoric  and  logic.     The 
latter  of  these  finished  with  a  dispute  in  the  manner 
of  Socrates,  a  very  famous  philosopher  of  Greece. 
Franklin  was  charmed  with  this  modest  and  artful 
manner,  and  cured  himself  of  the  tricks  of  contra 
diction  and  too  much  positiveness.     These  habits 
are  very  disagreeable,  and  no  one  should  allow  him 
self  to  fall  into  them. 

5.  "  In  fact,  if  you  wish  to  instruct  others,"  says 
Franklin,  "  a  positive  and  dogmatical  manner  in 
advancing  your  sentiments  may  occasion  opposition, 
arid  prevent  a  candid  attention.     If  you  desire  im 
provement  from  others,  you  should  not  at  the  same 
time  express  yourself  fixed  in  your  present  opinions. 
Modest  and  sensible  men,  who  do  not  love  disputa 
tion,  will  leave  you  undisturbed  in  the  possession  of 
your  errors.     In  adopting  such  a  manner,  you  can 
seldom  expect  to  please  your  hearers,  or  obtain  the 
concurrence  you  desire." 

6.  In  the  year  1720,  or  '21,  James  Franklin  be- 

4.  With  what  treatise  was  Franklin  so  much  pleased  ?  Of  what 
disagreeable  habits  did  it  cure  him  ?  5.  What  advice  does  he 
give  on  the  manner  of  conversation  ? 


22  LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN. 

gan  to  print  a  newspaper.  It  was  the  second  that 
appeared  in  America,  and  was  called  the  New 
England  Courant.  The  only  one  before  it  was  the 
Boston  News  Letter.  Some  of  his  friends  endeav 
ored  to  dissuade  him  from  the  undertaking.  They 
thought  it  would  not  succeed,  as,  in  their  opinion, 
one  newspaper  was  sufficient  for  all  America. 
There  are  now  in  the  United  States  alone,  over 
eight  hundred  newspapers. 

7.  The  undertaking,  however,  went  on.     Benja 
min  assisted  in  setting  the  types,  helped  to  print  off 
the  sheets,  and  was  then  employed  in  carrying  the 
papers  to  the  subscribers.     Several  men  of  informa 
tion  and  talents  wrote  little  pieces  for  the  paper, 
which  were  amusing,  and  gained  considerable  credit. 
These  gentlemen  often  visited  the  printing  office. 

8.  Hearing  their  conversations,  and  their  accounts 
of  the  praise  their  pieces  received  from  the  public, 
Benjamin  was  excited   to  try  his   fortune   among 
them.     He  was  afraid,  however,  as  he  was  still  a 
boy,  his  brother  would  object  to  print  any  thing  of 
his  composition  in  the  paper.     It  was  necessary, 
therefore,  to  disguise  his  hand-writing,  and  to  send 
his  piece  to  the  office  in  such  a  way  that  it  should 
not  be  known  from  whom  it  came. 

9.  When  his  friends  came  in,  James  showed  them 
the  communication  from  an  unknown  writer.    They 

6.  Who  printed  the  second  newspaper  in  New  England  ?  What 
was  it  called  ?  7.  How  was  Benjamin  connected  with  it  ?  8. 
What  first  induced  him  to  write  for  it  ?  Describe  his  first  attempt. 


LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN.  23 

read  it,  praised  it,  and  made  several  guesses  as  to 
the  author.  In  these  guesses  none  were  named  but 
men  of  some  character  for  talents  and  learning. 
They  never  once  suspected  it  was  written  by  the 
little  printer's  boy  who  stood  at  their  elbows,  chuck 
ling  in  silence  over  the  secret.  * 

10.  Encouraged  by  the  success  of  this  attempt, 
he  continued  to  write,  and  send  other  pieces  in  the 
same  way  to  the  press.     He  kept  his  secret  as  long 
as  he  saw  fit,  and  then  confessed  himself  the  author 
of  the  writings  they  had  been  so  long  guessing 
about.     Benjamin  now  began  to  be  more  noticed 
by  his  brother's  acquaintance,  which  made  him  a 
little  vain,  and  led  to  some  serious  difficulties. 

11.  His  brother,  notwithstanding  the  relationship 
between  them,  considered  himself  as  master,  and 
Benjamin  as  his  apprentice,  and  accordingly  ex 
pected  the  same  services  from  him  that  he  would 
from  another.     In  some  of  these  services  the  young 
printer  felt  himself  degraded,  and  thought  that  he 
Should  receive  greater  indulgence.    His  brother  was 
passionate,  and  frequently  beat  him ;  and,  finding  the 
apprenticeship  exceedingly  tedious,  Benjamin  was 
looking  forward  for  an  opportunity  to  shorten  it. 
This   at  length  happened   in  a  very  unexpected 
manner. 

12.  One  of  the  pieces  in  the  paper,  on  some  po- 

9.  How  was  his  communication  received  ?  10.  What  was  the 
consequence  of  his  success?  11.  What  were  the  difficulties  be 
tween  the  brothers  1 


24  LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN. 

litical  subject,  gave  offence  to  the  Assembly,  one 
of  the  most  important  branches  of  the  government 
of  Massachusetts.  James  Franklin  was  taken  up, 
censured,  and  imprisoned  for  a  month,  because  he 
would  not  discover  the  author.  Benjamin  was  also 
called  up  arid  examined  before  the  council ;  but,  con 
sidering  him  as  an  apprentice,  who  was  bound  to 
keep  his  master's  secret,  they  dismissed  him  with 
out  punishment. 

13.  During  his  brother's  confinement,  Benjamin 
had  the  management  of  the  paper,  and  indulged  in 
very  smart  remarks  upon  the  gpvernment.     This 
pleased  his  brother,  though  it  made  others  look  upon 
him  in  an  unfavorable  light,  as  a  youth  who  had  a 
turn  for  satire  and  libeling.     The  discharge  of  the 
imprisoned  printer  was  accompanied  with  an  order 
that  "  James  Franklin  should  no  longer  print  the 
newspaper  called  the  New  England  Courant." 

14.  On  a  consultation  held  at  the  printing  office,  it 
was  proposed  to  change  the  name  of  the  paper,  and 
in  this  manner  elude  the  order  of  the  council.     As 
there  were  many  difficulties  in  the  way  of  this  pro 
ject,  it  was  determined  to  let  the  paper  for  the  future 
be  printed  in  the  name  of  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. 

15.  When  apprentices  are  bound  outf  it  is  usual 
to  have  certain  agreements  drawn  up  between  them 


12.  What  happened  at  this  time  to  James  Franklin  ?  13.  How 
did  Benjamin  conduct  the  paper?  What  was  the -order  of  the 
council  ?  11.  How  was  it  evadt  '  15.  What  is  the  custom  in 
binding  out  apprentices  ? 


LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN.  25 

and  their  masters,  sealed  and  signed  according  to 
certain  forms  required  by  law.  These  papers  are 
called  indentures.  James  was  afraid  that  the  cen 
sure  of  the  Assembly  would  fall  on  him,  as  still 
printing  the  paper  by  his  apprentice,  and  contrived 
that  hj,s  old  indenture  should  be  returned  to  Benja 
min,  with  a  discharge  on  the  back  of  it. 

16.  This  was  to  be  shown  only  in  case  of  neces 
sity  ;  and  in  order  to  secure  his  services  for  the  re 
mainder  of  the  time,  it  was  agreed  that  Benjamin 
should  sign  new  indentures.     These  were  to  be 
kept  private.     This  was  a  very  flimsy  scheme,  but 
the  paper  continued  to  be  printed  in  this  manner  for  . 
several  months.     At  length  fresh  difficulties  arose, 
and  Benjamin  determined  to  take  advantage  of  his 
discharge ;  thinking  that  his  brother  would  be  afraid 
to  produce  the  new  indentures.     It  was  unfair  to 
take  this  advantage,  but  he  was  urged  to  it  by  very 
unkind  and  even  cruel  treatment. 

17.  When  his  brother  found  out  his  intentions,  he 
went  round  to  every  master  printer  in  town  to  pre 
vent  his  getting  employment.     In  consequence  of 
this,  he  concluded  to  remove  to  New  York ;  that 
being  the  nearest  place  where  there  was  another 
printer.     His  father  opposed  his  removal,  and  took 
side  with  his  brother  in  the  dispute.     Benjamin  sold 
his  books  to  furnish  the  means  of  paying  his  passage, 

How  was  Benjamin  discharged  from  his  indentures  ?  16.  What 
unfair  advantage  did  he  take  of  this  discharge  ?  17.  What  course 
did  his  broiier  pursue  on  this  occasion  ?  His  father  ?  Berjamin  ? 

3  B 


26  LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN. 

went  privately  on  board  of  a  sloop,  had  a  fair  wind, 
and  in  three  days  found  himself  in  New  York,  three 
hundred  miles  from  home,  at  the  age  of  seventeen. 
There  was  no  one  in  the  place  whom  he  knew  ;  he 
was  without  any  recommendations,  and  had  very 
little  money  in  his  pocket. 

18.  By  this  time  he  had  entirely  lost  all  his  love 
for  the  sea,  or   he   might  have   been  induced  to 
gratify  it.     Having  another  profession,  and  consid 
ering  himself  a  good  workman,  he  offered  his  ser 
vices  to  a  printer  of  the  place,  old  Mr.  W.  Bradford. 
This  man  had  been  the  first  printer  in  Pennsylvania, 
and  had  removed  from  there  in  consequence  of  a 
quarrel  with  the  governor,  General  Keith. 

19.  He  had  a  sufficient  number  of  workmen,  and 
little  to  do,  and  could  give  Franklin  no  employment. 
But  he  said,  "  My  son,  at  Philadelphia,  has  lately 
lost  his  principal  hand,  Aquila  Rose,  by  death,  and 
if  you  go  thither,  I  believe  he  may  employ  you." 

20.  Philadelphia  was  one  hundred  miles  farther, 
but  Franklin  concluded  to  go  there.     In  crossing 
the  bay,  a  squall  struck  the  little  vessel  he  was  in, 
and  tore  her  rotten  sails  to  pieces.     She  was  driven 
upon  Long  Island. 

21.  On  the  way,  a  drunken  Dutchman,  who  was 
a  passenger  in  the  boat,  tumbled  overboard.     As  he 
was  sinking,  Franklin  reached  out  and  caught  him 

18.  To  whom  did  he  apply  for  employment?  19.  With  what 
success?  20.  Where  did  he  determine  to  go?  21.  Whatisth* 
anecdote  of  the  Dutchman  7 


LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN.  27 

by  a  very  bushy  head  of  hair,  and  drew  him  up 
again.  This  sobered  him  a  little,  and  he  went  to 
sleep,  having  first  taken  a  book  out  of  his  pocket, 
which  he  desired  Franklin  to  dry  for  him.  It 
proved  to  be  a  Dutch  copy  of  his  old  favorite  book, 
Bunyan's  Pilgrim's  Progress,  and  he  carefully 
complied  with  the  wish  of  the  sleepy  owner. 


CHAPTER   III. 

His  Journey.  His  Dinner  with  the  old  Gingerbread 
Woman.  Arrives  in  Philadelphia.  Anecdote  of  the 
Rolls.  Attends  the  Meeting  House  of  the  Quakers. 
Suspected  of  being  a  Runaway.  Employed  by  Keimer. 
Noticed  by  Governor  Keith.  Visit  to  Boston.  Return, 

1.  ON  approaching  the   island,  the  crew  found 
themselves  in  a  place  where  there  could  be  no  land 
ing,  as  it  was  a  stony  beach,  and  a  violent  surf  was 
rolling.     They  cast  anchor,  and  remained  in  that 
situation  through  the  night.     As  the  spray  dashed 
over  the  boat,  they  were  all,  in  a  very  short  time, 
as  wet  as  the  unfortunate  Dutchman.     The  wind 
went  down  on  the  next  morning,  and  they  were 
able  to  reach  Amboy  before  night;  having  been 
thirty  hours  on  the  water,  without  victuals,  or  any 
drink  but  a  bottle  of  dirty  rum. 

2.  In  the  evening,  Franklin  found  himself  fever- 

1.  What  was  the  situation  of  the  crew  on  the  water  ? 


28  LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN. 

ish,  and  went  to  bed.  As  he  drank  plentifully  of 
cold  water,  his  fever  left  him,  and  in  the  morning 
he  proceeded  on  his  journey.  After  crossing  the 
ferry,  he  travelled  on  foot,  notwithstanding  a  violent 
rain,  till  noon.  Being  now  thoroughly  soaked  and 
tired,  he  stopped  at  a  poor  inn,  where  he  spent  the 
ainder  of  the  day,  and  all  night. 

3.  He  now  began  to  wish  that  he  had  never  left 
home.    His  prospect  of  procuring  employment,  even 
when  he  should  arrive  at  Philadelphia,  was  uncer 
tain.     He  thought  of  the  distress  his  sudden  disap- 
pearance   must   have    occasioned   to   his   parents. 
Besides  all  this,  he  made  such  a  sorry  figure  that 
he  was  suspected  of  being  a  runaway  servant,  and 
in  danger  of  being  taken  up  on  that  suspicion. 

4.  On  the  next  day,  however,  he  continued  his 
journey,  and  arrived  that  night  at  an  inn,  within 
eight  or  ten  miles  of  Burlington.     The  next  morn 
ing  he  reached  Burlington,  where  he  expected  to 
find  boats  to  sail  immediately  for  Philadelphia.     It 
was  Saturday,  and  he  had  the  mortification  to  find 
that  the  regular  boats  had  just  gone,  and  that  no 
others  were  expected  to  sail  before  Tuesday. 

5.  Franklin  returned  to  the  shop  of  an  old  woman, 
of  whom  he  had  bought  some  gingerbread  to  eat  on 
his  passage,  and  asked  her  where  he  had  better  go 
to  find  lodgings.     She  proposed  to  lodge  him  in  her 

2.  How  did  Franklin  pursue  his  journey  ?  3.  What  were  his 
fears  ?  6.  Describe  the  treatment  Franklin  received  from  the  old 
woman. 


LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN.  29 

own  house,  tin  a  passage,  by  some  other  boat,  of 
fered  itself.  He  accepted  the  invitation,  and  dined 
with  the  old  woman  that  day  on  ox-cheek.  All  that 
she  would  take  in  return  was  a  pot  of  ale. 

6.  Franklin  had  supposed  himself  fixed  till  the 
next  Tuesday,  but  as  he  was  walking,  in  the  even 
ing,  by  the  side  of  the  river,  a  boat  passed  by,  with 
several  people,  going  to  Philadelphia.     They  took 
him   in,    and   proceeded   on  their   voyage.      The 
weather  was  very  calm,  without  a  breath  of  wind 
stirring.     They  were  obliged  to  row  all  the  way. 
Reaching  Philadelphia  about  eight  or  nine  o'clock 
on  Sunday  morning,  they  landed  at  Market  street 
wharf. 

7.  Our  young  traveller  had  sent  his  best  clothes 
by  another  conveyance  from  New  York,  and  he 
was  in  his  old  working  dress.     His  pockets  were 
stuffed  out  with  shirts  and  stockings,  and  he  knew 
not  where  to  look  for  lodgings.     He  was  tired  with 
walking,  rowing,  and  want  of  sleep,  and  was,  besides, 
very  hungry.     His  whole  stock  of  cash  was  a  single 
silver  dollar  and  about  a  shilling  in  copper  coin. 
The  copper  he  gave  to  the  boatmen  for  his  passage. 

8.  As  he  walked  along  the  street,  gazing  at  the 
new  things  he  saw,  and  wondering  what  would  be 
the  end  of  his  trouble,  he  met  a  boy  with  some  bread. 
Inquiring  where  he  had  bought  it,  Franklin  went 
immediately  to  the  place  where  he  was  directed, 

6.  How  did  he  get  to  Philadelphia  ?    7.  Describe  his  appear 
ance  on  his  first  arrival  there. 

3* 


LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN 


Franklin  walking  in  the  streets  of  Philadelphia. 


LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN.  31 

and  asked  for  three-pence  worth  of  bread.  He  re 
ceived  three  large  puffy  rolls,  and,  having  no  room 
in  his  pockets,  walked  off,  with  a  roll  under  each 
arm,  and  eating  the  third. 

9.  In  this  manner  he  walked  up  Market  street, 
as  far  as  Fourth  street,  passing  by  the  house  of  Mr. 
Read,  whose  daughter  he  afterwards  married.    This 
young  lady  was  standing  at  the  door  as  he  went  by, 
and  probably  thought  he  made  rather  an  awkward 
appearance.     After  walking  about  the  streets  some 
time,  eating  his  roll,  he  found  himself  again  in  the 
neighborhood  of  the  wharf  where  he  had  landed. 
He  went  on  board  of  the  boat,  and  gave  his  two 
remaining  rolls  to  a  woman  and  child  that  had  been 
his  fellow-passengers  down  the  river. 

10.  He  again  'walked  up  the  street,  which  was, 
by  that  time,  filled  with  a  large  number  of  neat, 
well-dressed  people,  who  were  all  walking  the  same 
way.     He  joined  them,  and  was  led  into  the  great 
meeting  house  of  the  Quakers,  near  the  market. 
Sitting  down  among  them,  he  looked  round  awhile, 
and,  as  nothing  was  said,  fell  fast  asleep  from  drow 
siness.     His  nap  continued  till  the  meeting  broke 
up,  when  some  one  was  kind  enough  to  awake  him. 

11.  He  then  walked  down  towards  the  river,  and 
meeting    a    young    Quaker,   whose    countenance 
pleased  him,  he  asked  where  a  stranger  could  get 
lodgings.     They  were  then  near  a  house  with  the 
sign  of  the  Three  Mariners.      "Here,"  said  the 

10.  Relate  his  adventure  in  the  meeting  house. 


32  LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN. 

Quaker,  "  is  a  house  where  they  receive  strangers, 
but  it  is  not  a  reputable  one ;  if  thou  wilt  walk  with 
me,  I'll  show  thee  a  better."  He  conducted  Frank 
lin  to  the  Crooked  Billet,  in  Water  street. 

12.  There  he  dined,  and  during  the  dinner  sev 
eral  questions  were  put  to  him,  by  persons  who  sup 
posed  him  to  be  a  runarway.     On  the  next  morning, 
he  dressed  himself  as  neatly  as  he  could,  and  went 
to  see    Andrew  Bradford,   the   printer.     Here  he 
found  the  old  gentleman,  whom  he  had  met  in  New 
York,  and  who,  travelling  on  horseback,  had  got  to 
Philadelphia  before  him. 

13.  Mr.  Bradford  received  him  very  kindly,  but, 
as  he  was  not  at  that  time  in  want  of  a  hand,  could 
only  recommend  him  to  a  printer,  who  had  lately 
set  up  in  town,  tff  the  name  of  Ksiioer.     This  man 
had  then  nothing  for  him  to  do,  but  promised  him 
employment  soon.     Meanwhile,  he  was  invited  to 

'  *       lodge  with  Mr.  Bradford,  and  to  assist  when  there 
"iras  any  extra  work  in  the  printing  office. 

14.  Franklin  soon  found  that  neither  of  the  print 
ers  knew  any  thing  about  their  business.     Keimer 
was,  before  long,  able  to  give  him  c^nstarjt  employ 
ment.     He  did   not  like,   however,  that  any  one 
should  live  with  his  rival,  Bradford,  while  he  worked 
for  him.     Lodgings  were,  therefore,  procured  for 
Franklin,  with   Mr.  Read,  whose   house   he  had 

m     nassed  on  his  first  arrival,  while  eating  his  roll. 

w 


11.  Where  did  he  first  lodge  in  Philadelphia  ?    13.  Where  did 
obtain  employment  ? 


1 


..IFE  OF  FRANKLIN.  33 

15.  He  had  now  made  some  acquaintances  about 
town,  and  passed  his  time  very  pleasantly.     By  in 
dustry  and  frugality  he  gained  money,  and  gave  up 
all  thoughts  of  returning  to  Boston.     The  governor 
of  the  province,  Sir  William  Keith,  had  accidentally 
become  acquainted  with  him,  and  was  desirous  that 
he  should  set  up  in  business  for  himself,  in  Phila 
delphia.     He  promised  to  procure  for  him  the  pub 
lic  printing  of  the  government,  and  to  assist  him,  as 
much  as  possible,  by  his  influence  and  patronage. 

16.  It  was  concluded  that  Franklin  should  return 
to  Boston,  with  a  letter  from  the  governor,  to  prevail 
upon  his  father  to  assist  him  in  the  establishment. 
Towards  the  end  of  April,  in  1724,  he  left  Phila 
delphia  for  this  purpose. 

17.  He  sailed  in  a  little  vessel  that  was  bound  for 
Boston,  and,  in  about  a  fortnight,  was  safe  in  his 
father's  house.     His  sudden  appearance  surprised 
the  family  very  much,  but  they  were  all  delighted 
to  see  him,  and  treated  him  with  great  kindness. 

18.  Soon  after  his  arrival,  he  paid  a  visit  to  his 
brother,  at  the  printing  office.     He  had  on  a  new 
suit  of  clothes,  wore  a  watch,  and  had  about  five 
pounds,  in  silver,  in  his  pockets.     Feeling  rather 
elated  by  the  success  he  had  met  with,  he  made 
quite  a  display  of  all  his  good  fortune  before  his 
brother's  apprentices  and  journeymen,  and  ended 

15.  How  did  Franklin  succeed,  and  how  did  he  pass  his  time  ? 
What  was  the  promise  of  Sir  William  Keith  ?  16.  Why  did 
Franklin  go  to  Boston  ?  18.  Describe  his  visit  to  his  brother. 

*  B2 


34  LIFE  OF  FRA1NKMN 

by  giving  them  a  dollar  to  drink  his  health  with. 
This  visit  offended  his  brother  very  much,  for  he 
thought  it  was  intended  to  mortify  him. 

19.  The  letter  of  the  governor  was  without  any 
effect.     His  father  was  very  glad  that  Benjamin  had 
been  able  to  gain  the  confidence  of  so  eminent  a 
man,  but  would  not  consent  to  his  request.     He 
wrote  a  civil  letter,  thanking  Sir  William   for  his 
promise  of  patronage,  but  saying,  that  his  son  was 
altogether  too  young  to  be  intrusted  with  the  man 
agement  of  so  important  and  expensive  an  under 
taking. 

20.  Franklin   gave  so   pleasant   an   account  of 
Philadelphia,  that  his  old  friend  Collins  determined 
to  go  on  and  try  his  fortune  there.     Seeing  no  pros 
pect  of  restoring  harmony  between  the  two  brothers, 
his  father  consented  that  Benjamin  should  return  to 
Philadelphia.     He  advised  him  to  steady  industry 
and  frugality,  and  promised  to  assist  in  setting  him 
up  in  business,  when  he  should  reach  the  age  of 
twenty-one.     With  the  approbation  and  blessing  of 
his  parents  to  follow  him,  he  embarked  for  New 
York,  on  the  way  to  his  future  home. 

19.  How  did  his   father  receive  the  governor's   letter  ?    20. 
What  were  his  advice  and  promise  to  Benjamin  ? 


LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN.  35 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Finds  his  Friend  Collins  in  New  York.  Visit  to  the 
Governor.  Promises  from  Governor  Keith.  Project 
of  a  neio  religious  Sect.  Anecdote  of  Keimcr  and  the 
roast  Pig.  His  principal  Acquaintance.  A  lite 
rary  Trick.  Prepares  to  go  to  London.  The  Gov 
ernor's  Deception.  Arrival  in  London. 

1 .  AT  New  York  Franklin  found  his  friend  Col 
lins,  who  had  arrived  there  some  time  before  him. 
They  had  been  intimate  from  childhood,  and  he 
had  been  sober  and  industrious.     But  during  Frank 
lin's  absence  in  Philadelphia,  Collins  had  fallen  into 
bad  habits,  and  become  a  drunkard.     He  gamed, 
and  lost  his  money,  and  borrowed  of  his  friend,  to 
pay  his  expenses  on  the  road. 

2.  The  governor  of  New  York,  hearing  from  the 
captain  that  one  of  his  passengers  had  a  great  many 
books  on  board,  requested  that  he  might  be  brought 
to  see  him.     Franklin,  accordingly,  waited  upon 
him.     He  was  received  with  great  civility.     The 
governor  showed  him  his  library,  which  was  a  con 
siderable  one,  and  they  had  a  good  deal  of  conver 
sation  about  books  and  authors.     This  attention 
was  very  pleasing  to  Franklin. 

3.  When  they  arrived  at  Philadelphia,  Collins 

1.  What  happened  to  his  friend  Collins  ?     2.  What  attention  did 
Franklin  receive  from  the  governor  of  New  York  ? 


36  LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN. 

continued  to  drink,  and  was,  consequently,  unable 
to  procure  any  business.  He  continued  to  borrow 
money  of  Franklin,  and  finally  quarrelled  with  him, 
and  went  to  the  West  Indies.  Franklin  never 
heard  of  him  afterwards. 

4.  Sir  William  Keith  received  the  young  printer, 
on  his  return,  with  a  great  show  of  kindness,  and 
large  promises.  "  Since  your  father  will  not  set 
you  up,"  he  said  to  him,  "  I  will  do  it  myself.  Give 
me  a  list  of  the  things  necessary  to  be  had  from 
England,  and  I  will  send  for  them.  You  shall  re 
pay  me  when  you  are  able.  I  am  resolved  to  have 
a  good  printer  here,  and  I  am  sure  you  must  suc 
ceed."  This  was  spoken  with  an  air  of  perfect 
sincerity,  and  Franklin  had  not  the  least  doubt  but 
that  he  meant  what  he  said. 

6.  He  accordingly  made  a  list  of  all  the  articles 
that  would  be  wanted  for  a  printing  house,  the  cos^t 
of  which  was  about  one  hundred  pounds.  Thg 
governor  liked  it,  and  asked  whether  it  would  not 
be  well  for  him  to  go  to  England  himself,  in  order 
to  select  the  types,  and  see  that  every  thing  was  of 
the  best  kind.  "When  there,"  he  added,  "you 
may  make  acquaintance,  and  establish  correspond 
ence  in  the  bookselling  and  stationery  way." 

6.  Franklin  thought  that  it  might  be  advan 
tageous.  "  Then,"  said  he,  "  get  yourself  ready  to 
go  in  the  Annis,"  which-  was  the  annual  ship,  and 

4.  What  was  Sir  William  Keith's  conduct  ?  5.  What  was  the 
proposed  visit  to  England  ? 


LIFE  OF   FRANKLIN.  37 

at  that  time  the  only  one  passing  between  London 
and  Philadelphia.  But,  as  it  would  be  some  months 
before  the  Annis  sailed,  Franklin  continued  to  work 
with  Keimer. 

7.  They  agreed  together  very  well,  and  lived  on 
quite  a  familiar  footing.     Franklin  used  sometimes  " 
to  argue  witj^Jjja  master,  and  would  most  frequently 
beat   him.     This   gave   him  so  great  an  idea  of 
Franklin's  ability  in  disputation,  that  he  proposed 
to  him  to  become  his  assistant  in  a  new  religious 
sect  which  he  proposed  to  establish.     One  was  to 
preach  the  doctrines,  and  the  other  to  confound  all 
opponents. 

8.  When  they  came  to  explain  with  each  other 
upon  their  doctrines,  Keimer  was  desirous  of  intro 
ducing  certain  customs,  which  did  not  entirely  meet 
the  wishes  of  his  colleague.     Among  other  things, 
he  wore  his  beard  at  full  length;  because,  some 
where  in  the  Mosaic  law,  it  is  said,  "  Thou  shalt 
not  mar  the  comers  of  thy  beard."     He  likewise 
kept  the  seventh  day  sabbath,  instead  of  the  first ; 
and  both  of  these  points  he  considered  essential. 

t).  Franklin  disliked  both,  but  agreed  to  them  on 
condition  of  his  adopting  the  doctrine  not  to  use 
animal  food.  Keimer  was  a  great  eater,  and  was 
not  much  pleased  with  the  idea  of  being  starved  ; 
but  he  consented  to  try  the  practice  a  few  weeks 
and  see  how  it  agreed  with  his  constitution. 

7.  What  started  the  scheme  of  a  new  sect  ?    8.  Why  did  it 
fail? 

4 


38  LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN. 

10.  They  held  to  this  plan  for  three  months. 
Their  provisions  were  purchased,  cooked,  and 
brought  to  them  regularly  by  a  woman  in  the  neigh 
borhood,  who  prepared,  at  different  times,  forty 
dishes,  in  which  there  were  neither  fish,  flesh,  nor 
fowl.  Franklin  went  on  well  enough,  but  poor 
Keimer  suffered  grievously,  gre-w  tired  of  the  project, 
and  orde«?d  a  roast  pig.  He  invited  some  friends 
to  dine  with  him  upon  the  occasion,  but  the  pig 
being  brought  too  soon  upon  the  table,  he  could  not 
resist  the  temptation,  but  ate  the  whole  before  his 
company  came. 

/  11.  During  this  time,  Fran  Win  had  contracted 
*•  an  affection  for  Miss  Read,  and  believed  that  she 
•was  not  altogether  indifferent  in  her  feelings  towards 
him.  As  he  was  about  to  take  a  long  voyage,  how 
ever,  and  as  they  were  both  very  young,  her  mother 
thought  it  most  prudent  to  defer  the  matter  till  his 
return  from  England. 

12.  His  chief  acquaintance,  at  this  period,  were 
Charles  Osborne,  Joseph  Watson,  and  James  Ralph, 

vail  lovers  of  reading.  In  one  of  their  meetings,  it 
was  proposed  that  at  a  certain  time  each  of  them 
should  produce  a  piece  of  his  own  composition,  in 
order  to  improve,  by  mutual  observations  and  cor 
rections.  They  agreed  that  this  task  should  be  to 
turn  the  eighteenth  psalm  into  verse. 

10.  Relate  the  anecdote  of  Kjeimer  and  the  roast  pig.  12.  Who 
were  his  chief  acquaintance  at  this  period  ?  What  was  the  task 
proposed  among  them  ? 


LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN.  39 

13.  When  the  time  of  the  meeting  drew  nign, 
Ralph  called  upon  Franklin,  and  told  him  that  his 
piece  was   ready.      "  Now,"   said   he,   "  Osborne 
never  will  allow  the  least  merit  in  any  thing  of  mine, 
but  makes  a  thousand  criticisms,  out  of  mere  envy. 
I  wish,  therefore,  you  would  take  this  piece  and 
produce  it  as  yours:  we  shall  then  hear  what  he 
will  say  to  it." 

14.  It  was  agreed.     At  the  meeting,  Watson's 
performance  was  read  first ;  there  were  some  beau 
ties  in  it  and  many  defects.     Osborne's  piece  was 
then  read,  and  was  much  better.     Ralph  had  nothing 
to  produce.     It  was  now  Franklin's  turn.     He  was 
backward,  wished  to   be  excused,  but  no  excuse 
would  be  received.     The  piece  he  brought  with  him 
was  read,   and  repeated.     Osborne  was  delighted 
with  it,  and  praised  it  in  the  highest  terms. 

15.  As  he  was  returning  home  with  Ralph,  he 
expressed  himself  still  more  strongly.     "  Who  would 
have  imagined,"  said  he,  "that  Franklin  was  ca 
pable  of  such  a  performance !  such  painting,  such 
force,  such  fire!     He  has  even  improved  on  the 
original.      In  common  conversation   he   seems  to 
have  no  choice  of  words  ;  he  hesitates  and  blunders  ; 
and  yet  how  he  writes  !"     When  they  next  met,  the 
trick  was  discovered,  and  Osborne  was  laughed  at 
for  praising  Ralph,  by  mistake. 

16.  The  governor  sent  for  Franklin  frequency  to 
his  house,  and  always  spoke  of  setting  him  up  in 

14.  What  was  the  trick  played  upon  Osborne  ? 


40  LIFE  OF   FRANKLIN. 

business,  as  a  settled  thing.  He  was  to  be  furnished 
with  letters  to  the  governor's  friends  in  England, 
and  with  an  order  for  the  money  to  purchase  a  press, 
types,  and  paper.  For  these  letters  he  was  to  call 
at  a  certain  time,  when  they  would  be  ready.  They 
were  delayed,  however,  again  and  again,  till  the 
ehip  was  on  the  point  of  sailing. 

17.  When  Franklin  went  to  take  leave,  and  re 
ceive  the  letters,  the  secretary  came  out  and  said, 
that  the  governor  was  very  busy  on  business  of  im 
portance,  but  that  he  would  send  the  letters  on  board, 
wishing  him  a  good  voyage  and  a  speedy  return. 

18.  Understanding    that   despatches   had   been 
brought  on  board,  from  the  governor,  Franklin  asked 
the  captain  for  the  letters  that  were  to  be  under  his 
care.     The  captain  told  him  that  they  had  all  been 
put  into  the  bag  together,  and  he  could  not  then 
come  at  them ;  but  that  before  they  landed  in  Eng 
land,  he  should  have  an  opportunity  of  picking  them 
out.     This  satisfied  him  for  the  present,   and  he 
thought  nothing  more  of  it  during  the  voyage. 

19.  When  they  arrived  in  the  Channel,  the  cap 
tain  kept  his  word,  and  permitted  him  to  examine 
the  bag,  for  the  governor's  letters.     He  found  some 
upon  which  his  name  was  put,  and  picked  out  six 
or  seven,  which  he  thought  might  be  the  promised 
letters.     One  of  these  was  addressed  to  Basket,  the 
king's  printer,  and  another  to  some  stationer. 

17.  What  was  the  conduct  of  the  governor?     18.  Did  Franklin 
receive  the  letters  promised  by  the  governor  7 


LIFE  OF   FRANKLIN.  41 

20.  They  reached  London  on  the  twenty-fourth 
of  December,  1724.     Franklin  waited  upon  the  sta 
tioner,  who  came  first  in  his  way,  and  delivered  the 
letter  as  from  Governor  Keith.     "  I  don't  know  such 
a  person,"  said  he;  but  opening  the  letter — "O! 
this  is  from  Riddlesden  ;  I  have  lately  found  him  to 
be  a  complete  rascal,  and  I  will  have  nothing  to  do 
with  him,  nor  receive  any  letters  from  him."     Re 
turning  the  letter,  he  turned  upon  his  heel  and  went 
to  wait  upon  some  customer. 

21.  It  turned  out  that  the  governor  had  sent  no 
letters  by  Franklin,  but  had  completely  deceived 
him.     With  no  intention  of  giving  him  any  assist 
ance,  he  had  blinded  him  with  brilliant  promises       * 
and  false  hopes.     But  Franklin  was  able  to  assist\ 
himself.      He  determined  to  procure  employment 
among  the  printers  in  London,  and  acquire  a  thor 
ough  knowledge  of  his  profession  before  he  returned 

to  America. 

20.  What  was  the  fate  of  Franklin's  first  letter  of  introduction  ? 
21.  What  course  did  Franklin  determine  to  pursue  ? 
4* 


LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN. 


Franklin  delivering  his  letter  to  the  Stationer  in  London. 


LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN.  43 


CHAPTER  V. 

Troubled  by  his  Friend  Ralph.  Obtains  Employment. 
Ralph  turns  Schoolmaster,  and  begins  an  Epic  Poem. 
Franklin  teaches  some  of  his  Friends  to  swim.  Anec 
dote  of  Mr.  Denham.  Return  to  Philadelphia.  Story 
of  George  Webb.  Franklin  quarrels  with  Keimer. 
Returns  to  work  for  him.  Employed  at  Burlington. 
Leaves  Keimer. 

1.  His  friend  Ralph  had  accompanied  Franklin  to 
London,  and  they  were  now  inseparable  companions. 
They  took  lodgings  together,  at  three  shillings  and 
sixpence  a  week.     Ralph  appears  to  have  been  a 
conceited  and  helpless  character,  and  made  several 
attempts  to  get  in  the  way  of  procuring  a  livelihood. 
But  all  his  plans  were  unsuccessful. 

2.  Franklin   immediately  procured  employment 
at  an  extensive  printing  house,  where  he  remained 
nearly  a  year.     He  was  diligent  in  work,  but  his 
shiftless  companion  consumed  a  good  share  of  his 
earnings.      His  engagements  with  Miss  Read  he 
was  thoughtless  and  heartless  enough  to  forget,  and 
never  wrote  to  her  but  once  during  his  absence. 
This  conduct  he  afterwards  considered  among  the 
greatest  faults  of  his  life. 

3.  Ralph  finally  determined  to  leave  London,  and 

2.  Where  did  Franklin  procure  employment  ?    3.  What  waa 
th«  course  of  his  friend  Ralph  t 


44  LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN. 

take  a  school  in  the  country.  As  he  was  very  vain, 
and  confident  of  rising  to  literary  eminence,  he  was 
rather  ashamed  of  what  he  was  silly  enough  to  con 
sider  a  mean  occupation.  He  accordingly  changed 
his  name,  and  took  that  of  his  companion ;  desiring 
him  to  address  his  letters  to  "  Mr.  Franklin,  school 
master." 

4.  Ralph  continued  to  write,  and,  from  time  to 
time,  troubled  his  friend  with  long  extracts  from  an 
epic  poem,  which  he  was  then  composing,  request 
ing  his  remarks   and  corrections.      Franklin  en 
deavored  to  discourage  him  from  this  undertaking, 
but  in  vain.     Sheet  after  sheet  continued  to  come 
by  every  post.     Some  difficulties  at  length  broke  out 
between  the  two  friends,  and  Franklin  was  fortu 
nately  relieved  of  a  burdensome  dependent. 

5.  He  now  began  to  think  of  laying  up  a  little 
money;  and,  in  expectation  of  better  employment, 
entered  a  still  larger  printing  house,  near  Lincoln's 
Inn  Fields.     His  new  employer  was  named  Watts. 
At  this  place  he  became  acquainted  with  a  man  by 
the  name  of  Wygate,  who  had  been  well  educated, 
read  French  and  Latin,  and  loved  reading. 

6.  This  man  and  $.  friend  of  his  were  desirous  of 
learning  to  swim.   (Franklin  had  been  an  expert 
swimmer  from  his  childhood,  and  was  very  fond  of 
displaying  his  feats  of  activity  in  the  water)     He 
taught  them  to  swim,  after  twice  going 'Into  the 
river,  and  they  soon  became  quite  skilful.     Wygate 

5.  What  new  friend  did  Franklin  makel 


LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN.  45 

soon  became  attached  to  Franklin,  and,  at  length, 
proposed  that  they  should  travel  all  over  Europe 
together,  supporting  themselves  on  the  way  by  work 
ing  at  their  trade.  Franklin  was  inclined  to  this 
plan,  but  was  dissuaded  from  it  by  his  friend,  Mr. 
Denham,  who  advised  him  to  think  of  returning  to 
Philadelphia. 

7.  Mr.  Denham  was  an  excellent  man,  and  very 
kindly  disposed  towards  Franklin.     He  had  formerly 
been  in  business  in  Bristol,  a  city  of  England,  but 
failing,  and  making  a  settlement  with  his  creditors, 
he  went  to  America.     He  had  obtained  a  discharge 
from  all  his  debts,  by  giving  up  all  his  property. 
By  great  industry  and  economy,  he  was  able  to  ac 
quire  a  large  fortune,  in  a  few  years. 

8.  He  had  returned  to  England,  in  the  same  ship 
with  Franklin,  and  immediately  visited  his  old  place 
of  business.     While  here,  he  invited  all  his  old 
creditors  to  an  entertainment.     He  then  thanked 
them  for  the  easy  settlement  they  had  favored  him 
with ;  and,  when  they  expected  nothing  but  the  din 
ner,  every  man  found,  under  his  plate,  an  order  on 
the  banker,  for  the  full  amount  of  the  unpaid  re 
mainder,  with  interest. 

9.  Mr.  Denham  was  now  about  to  return  to  Phil 
adelphia,  and  proposed  to  take  Franklin  over  as  his 
clerkc     He  promised  him,  as  soon  as  he  became 

6.  Whai  proposition  did  he  make  to  Franklin  ?  Why  was  not 
the  plan  carried  into  execution  ?  7.  Who  was  Mr.  Denham  ? 
8  Oescnoe  his  honorable  conduct  towards  his  old  creditors.  9. 
\Vhai  iwoposal  did  he  make  to  Franklin  ? 


46  LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN. 

acquainted  with  mercantile  business,  to  promote 
him,  and  finally  establish  him  in  some  profitable 
situation.  The  plan  pleased  Franklin,  for  he  had 
become  heartily  tired  of  London,  and  was  anxious 
to  return  home.  A  satisfactory  arrangement  was 
made,  and  Franklin  took  leave  of  printing,  as  he 
thought,  forever. 

10.  He  had  thus  spent  about  eighteen  months  in 
London,  and,  during  this  time,  had  increased  his 
knowledge,  though  he  had  not  improved  his  fortune. 
They  sailed  from  Gravesend,  near  the  mouth  of  the 
river  Thames,  on  the  23d  of  July,  and  arrived  in 
Philadelphia  early  in  October.  Franklin  here  found 
several  alterations.  Keith  was  no  longer  governor, 
and  his  place  had  been  supplied  by  Major  Gordon. 
Miss  Read,  despairing  of  his  return,  had  been  per 
suaded  by  her  friends  to  marry  a  man  by  the  name 
of  Rogers,  a  worthless  fellow,  who  left  her,  and  ran 
away  to  the  West  Indies.^/' 

-"11.  Mr.  Denham  took  a  store,  and  Franklin  at 
tended  diligently  to  the  business.  Affairs  were  go 
ing  on  prosperously,  when  they  were  both  taken  vi 
olently  ill,  in  the  beginning  of  the  year  1727.  Mr. 
Denham  died,  after  a  long  sickness,  and  Franklin 
was  again  thrown  upon  the  world.  He  tried  for 
some  time  to  obtain  a  situation  as  a  merchant's  clerk, 
but,  failing  in  this  attempt,  he  again  made  an  en 
gagement  with  his  old  master,  Keimer. 

10.  How  long  was  Franklin  in  London  ?  What  changes  had 
taken  place  during  his  absence  ?  11.  How  was  Franklin  again 
thrown  upon  the  world  ?  What  employment  did  he  obtain  7 


LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN.  47 

12.  Keimer    was  anxious   to  obtain  Franklin's 
services,  as  most  of  his  hands  were  ignorant  and 
needed   his  instruction.      Among  these  workmen 
was  George  Webb,  who  had  been  an  Oxford  scholar, 
and  whose  story  was  an  uncommon  instance  of  op 
portunities  neglected  and  thrown  away. 

13.  He  was  about  eighteen  years  of  age.     His 
birthplace  was  Gloucester,  in  England,  where  he 
was  educated  at  a  grammar  school,  and  had  been 
distinguished  when  they  exhibited  plays.      From 
here,  he  was  sent  to  Oxford,  where  he  continued 
about  a  year,  but  not  contentedly ;  wishing,  of  all 
things,  to  see  London,  and  become  a  player. 

14.  At  length,  receiving  his  quarterly  allowance 
of  fifteen  guineas,  instead  of  discharging  his  debts, 
he  went  out  of  town,  hid  his  gown  in  a  bush,  and 
walked  to  London.     When  here,  having  no  friend 
to  advise  him,  he  fell  into  bad  company,  soon  spent 
his  guineas,  found  no  means  of  being  introduced 
among  the  players,  grew  poor,  pawned  his  clothes, 
and  wanted  bread. 

15.  Walking  about  the  streets,  very  hungry,  and 
not  knowing  what  to  do,  a  bill  was  put  into  his  hands, 
offering  immediate  entertainment  and  encourage 
ment  to  such  as  would  bind  themselves  to  serve  in 
America.     He  went  directly  to  sign  the  indentures, 
was  put  into  the  ship,  and  sailed  without  writing  a 
line  to  his  friends,  to  tell  them  what  had  become  of 
him.     As  a   companion,  he  was  lively,  witty,  and 

12.  Who  was  George  Webb  ?    13,  14, 15.  What  was  his  story  ? 


48  LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN. 

good-natured  ;  but  idle,  thoughtless,  and  imprudent 
to  the  last  degree. 

16.  After  continuing  a  while  with  Keimer,  Frank 
lin  found  that  his  services  became  every  day  of  less 
importance.     At  length  a  trifle  snapped  their  con 
nection.     A  great  noise  happening  near  the  printing 
office,  Franklin  put  his  head  out  of  the  window  to 
see  what  was  the  matter.     Keimer,  being  in  the 
street,  looked  up,  and  called  out  to  him,  in  a  loud 
and  angry  tone,  to  mind  his  business.     A  number 
of  neighbors,  who  were  standing  by,  saw  the  inso 
lent  manner  in  which  he  was  treated,  and  it  vexed 
him  exceedingly.     An  open  quarrel  ensued,   and 
Franklin  left  the  printing  house. 

17.  Keimer  was  very  desirous  of  persuading  him 
to  return  ;  and,  as  it  was  for  the  interest  of  both  that 
harmony  should  be  restored,  the  quarrel  was  soon 
forgotten.     A  job  was  now  obtained  in  New  Jersey, 
to  print  some  paper  money.     Franklin  contrived  a 
copperplate  press  for  the  purpose,  the  first  that  had 
been  seen  in  the  country ;  he  also  cut  several  orna 
ments  and  checks  for  the  bills. 

18.  To  execute  this  job,  Franklin  and  his  em 
ployer  went  to  Burlington.     They  performed  it  to 
the  satisfaction  of  the  government,  and  received  a 
large  compensation.     During  his  short   residence 
here,    Franklin    made    many    acquaintance     and 

16.  How  did  Franklin  quarrel  with  Keimer?  17.  Who  con 
trived  the  first  copperplate  press  ever  seen  in  this  country  ?  18. 
For  what  purpose  did  Franklin  visit  Burlington  ? 


LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN.  49 

friends.  One  of  them  was  Isaac  Decon,  the  sur 
veyor-general,  a  shrewd,  sagacious  old  man,  who 
began,  when  young,  by  wheeling  clay  for  the  brick- 
makers.  He  learned  to  write  after  he  was  twenty- 
one  years  of  age,  afterwards  learned  surveying,  and 
had  now  acquired,  by  his  industry,  a  considerable 
property. 

19.  What  had  chiefly  induced  Franklin  to  return 
to  Keimer,  after  his  quarrel,  was  the  persuasion  of 
a  fellow-workman,  by  the  name  of  Meredith.     The 
father  of  this  young  man  had  promised  to  advance 
money  to  establish  him  in  business,  in  the  ensuing 
spring,  and  he  was  desirous  to  set  Franklin's  skill 
against  his  own  capital,  and  form  a  copartnership. 
The  proposal  was  a  fair  one,  and  acceptable  upon 
both  sides. 

20.  A  short  time  after  their  return  from  Burling 
ton,  the  types  that  Meredith  had  ordered  arrived 
from  London.     They  settled  with  Keimer,  and  left 
him,  by  his  consent,  before  he  knew  any  thing  about 
their  project. 

19.  What  induced  Franklin  to  return  to  Keimer,  after  the  sep 
aration  1  What  was  the  proposal  of  Meredith  7  20.  When  did 
they  leave  Keimer  1 

5  C 


50  LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN 


CHAPTER  VI. 

The  Junto.  A  new  Paper  started  by  Keimer.  Frank 
lin  purchases  it.  Difficulties  in  their  Business.  A 
Dissolution  of  the  Partnership.  Franklin  assisted  by 
his  Friends.  David  Harry.  Match-making.  Mar 
riage  ivith  Miss  Read. 

1.  IN  the  autumn  of  the  preceding  year,  Franklin 
had  formed,  among  his  acquaintance,  a  small  club  for 
mutual  improvement,  which  they  termed  the  Junto. 
They  met  on  Friday  evenings.     The  rules  required 
that  each  member,  in  his  turn,  should  produce  one 
or  more  questions  on  any  point  of  politics,  morals  or 
natural  philosophy,  to  be  discussed  by  the  company, 
and  once  in  three  months  produce  and  read  an 
essay  of  his  own  writing  on  any  subject  he  pleased. 

2.  This  club  answered  many  good  purposes  for  a 
great  length  of  time.     It  introduced  better  habits 
of  conversation,  and  drew  attention  to  the  most  in 
teresting  subjects  of  general  inquiry.     The  mem 
bers  of  the  club  now  assisted  in  bringing  business 
to  the  young  printers.      Their  industry  was  un 
wearied,  and  soon  began  to  be  noticed  by  their 
neighbors.     This  gave  them  character  and  credit. 

3.  George  Webb  now  came  to  offer  them  his 
services,   as  a  journeyman.     They  were  not  then 

1.  What  was  the  Junto  T    What  did  the  rules  of  this  club  re 
quire  f    2.  What  pood  purposes  did  it  answer  ? 


LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN.  51 

able  to  give  film  employment,  but  Franklin  let  him 
know,  as  a  secret,  that  he  soon  intended  to  begin  a 
newspaper,  and  would  then  probably  have  work  for 
him.  He  told  him  his  plan  and  expectations.  His 
hopes  of  success  were  founded  on  this  ;  that  the  only 
newspaper  at  that  time  printed  there,  by  Bradford, 
was  a  miserable  affair,  badly  managed,  not  enter 
taining,  and  yet  profitable. 

4.  Franklin  requested  Webb  not  to  mention  the 
project ;  but  he  told  it  to  Keimer,  who  immediately 
issued  proposals  for  publishing  one  himself.     This 
vexed  Franklin,  and,  as  he  was  at  that  time  unable 
to  commence  his  paper,  he  wrote  several  amusing 
pieces  for  Bradford,  under  the  title  of  the  BUSY 
BODY,  which  were  continued  by  one  of  his  friends 
for  several  months.     By  this  means  the  attention  of 
the  public  was  fixed  on  that  paper,  and  Keimer's 
proposals  were  neglected.     He  began  his  paper, 
however,  and  carried  it  on  about  nine  months,  with 
only  ninety  subscribers.     At  this  time,  he  offered  it, 
at  a  very  low  price,  to  Franklin,  who  purchased  it, 
and  in  a  few  years  made  it  very  profitable. 

5.  The  partnership  still  continued,  though   the 
whole  management  of  the  business  was  confided  to 
Franklin.     Meredith  knew  very  little  about  setting 
types,  or  working  at  the  press,  and  was  seldom 
sober.     The  connection  between  them  was  to  be 

3.  What  project  did  Franklin  communicate  to  George  Webb  ? 
4  What  was  the  consequence  of  this  communication  ?  What 
course  did  Franklin  pursue  ? 


52  LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN. 

regretted,  on  many  accounts,  but  Meredith  had  es 
tablished  the  business,  and  it  was  now  necessary  to 
make  the  best  of  it. 

6.  Their  first  papers  made  a  better  appearance 
than  any  that  had  been  before  printed  in  the  prov 
ince.     The  number  of  subscribers  continually  in 
creased,  and  the  leading  men  found  it  convenient 
to  oblige  and  encourage  the  printers.      Bradford 
still  printed  the  votes,  and  laws,  and  public  docu 
ments;  but  this  business  soon  fell  into  the  hands  of 
Franklin. 

7.  A  difficulty  now  occurred,  which  had  been 
little  expected.     Mr.  Meredith's  father,  who  was  to 
have  paid  for  the  printing  house,  was  able  to  advance 
only  one  hundred  pounds ;  and  one  hundred  more 
were  due  to  the  merchant,  who  became  impatient, 
and  sued  them  all.     They  gave  bail,  but  unless  the 
money  could  have  been  raised  in  season,  they  must 
have  sold  their  press  and  types,  for  payment. 

8.  In  this  distress,  two  friends  came  forward  to 
Franklin,  and  offered  to  advance  the  money,  if  he 
would  discontinue  the  partnership  with  Meredith. 
Each  made  the  proposition  separately,  and  without 
the  knowledge  of  the  other.     These  friends  were 
William  Coleman   and   Robert  Grace.     Franklin 
told  them  that  he  considered  himself  under  obliga 
tions  tathe  Merediths,  and  if  they  should  be  able  to 

6.  How  did  the  paper  succeed  under  Franklin's  management  ? 
7.  What  difficulty  arose  at  this  time  ?  8.  Who  offered  Franklin 
their  assistance  f 


LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN.  53 

fulfil  their  part  of  the  agreement,  he  could  not  think 
of  proposing  a  separation.  If  they  should  finally 
fail  in  their  performance,  and  the  partnership  should 
be  dissolved,  he  would  then  think  himself  at  liberty 
to  accept  the  assistance  of  his  friends. 

9.  Meredith  finally  proposed  a  dissolution  of  the 
partnership.     Franklin  consented,   and   the  whole 
business  was  left  in  his  hands.     He  then  recurred 
to  his  friends,  and  took  half  of  what  he  wanted  from 
one,  and  half  from  the  other.     The  separation  was 
then  publicly  advertised,  the  old  debts  were  paid 
off,  and  the  business  went  on  in  the  name  of  Frank 
lin.     This  was  in  or  about  the  year  1729. 

10.  He  now  obtained  several  jobs  from  the  gov 
ernment,  and  was  employed  in  printing  the  paper 
money.     A  stationer's  shop  was  soon  added  to  his 
establishment,  and  he  began  to  pay  off  gradually 
the  debt  he  was  under  for  the  printing  house.     In 
order  to  secure  his  character  and  credit  as  a  trades 
man,  he  was  not  only  industrious  and  frugal  in  re 
ality,  but  avoided  any  appearance  to  the  contrary. 
He  dressed  plainly,  and  was  seen  at  no  places  of 
amusement.     To  show  that  he  was  not  above  his 
business,  he  himself  sometimes  brought  home,  on  a 
wheel-barrow,  the  paper  he  purchased  at  the  stores 

11.  Being  thus   considered  an   industrious  and 
thriving  young  man,  the  merchants  who  imported 

9.  What  did  Meredith  propose  ?  How  was  Franklin  relieved  ? 
10.  Describe  the  increase  of  his  business,  and  his  character  and 
conduct  as  a  tradesman. 

5* 


LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN. 


Franklin  taking  home  his  paper. 


LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN.  55 

stationery  were  desirous  of  his  custom.  Others 
proposed  supplying  him  with  books,  and  he  went  on 
prosperously.  In  the  mean  time,  Keimer's  business 
and  credit  declined  daily,  and  he  was  at  last  obliged 
to  sell  his  printing  house,  to  satisfy  his  creditors. 
He  went  to  Barbadoes,  and  there  lived,  some  years, 
in  great  poverty. 

12.  An  apprentice  of  Keimer's,  David  Harry, 
bought  his  materials,  and  set  up,  in  his  place,  in 
Philadelphia.     His  friends  were  rich,  and  possessed 
considerable   influence,    and  Franklin  was  afraid 
that  he  would  find  Harry  a  powerful  rival.     He, 
therefore,  proposed  a  partnership,  which  was  fortu 
nately  rejected.      Harry  was  proud,  dressed  and 
lived  expensively,  neglected  his  business,  and  ran 
in  debt.     Losing  credit,  and  finding  nothing  to  do, 
he  followed  Keimer  to  Barbadoes,  taking  his  print 
ing  materials  with  him.     Here  he  employed  his  old 
master  as  a  journeyman,  and  was  at  last  obliged  to 
sell  his  types  and  return  to  work  in  Philadelphia. 

13.  There  now  remained  no  other  printer  in  the 
place  but  Bradford.     He,  however,  was  rich  and 
easy,  and  was  not  anxious  about  doing  much  busi 
ness.     His  situation  as  post-master,  at  that  time,  was 
supposed  to  give  him  some  advantages  in  obtaining 
news,  and  distributing  the  papers ;  and  he  was,  on 
that  account,  able  to  procure  a  great  many  more 

11.  What  became  of  Keimer  ?  12.  Who  was  David  Harry  ? 
What  became  of  him  ?  13.  Who  was  now  the  only  rival  of 
Franklin  ? 


56  LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN. 

advertisements  than  Franklin.  This  was  of  great 
service  to  Bradford,  and  prevented  his  rival  from 
gaming  upon  him  so  rapidly  as  he  otherwise  would 
have  done.' 

14.  Franklin  had  hitherto  boarded  with  Mr.  God 
frey,  a  glazier,  who  was  very  much  distinguished 
for  his  knowledge  of  mathematics.     The  wife  of 
Mr.  Godfrey  was  desirous  of  making  a  match  for  the 
young  printer,  and  fixed  upon  the  daughter  of  a 
neighbor,  as  a  suitable  person.     She  contrived,  in 
several  ways,  to  bring  them  together,  and  at  length 
Franklin  made  proposals  of  marriage. 

15.  Franklin  appears  to  have  been  equally  pru 
dent  and  cautious  in  this  affair,  as  in  every  thing 
else.     He  gave  Mrs.  Godfrey  to  understand,  and 
carry  to  the  parents,  that  he  expected  one  hundred 
pounds  with  their  daughter.     She  brought  him  word 
that  they  had  no  such  sum  to  spare.     Franklin  sent 
back,   in   reply,   that  they  might  mortgage   their 
house. 

16.  The  answer  to  this,  after  a  few  days,  was, 
that  they  did  not  approve  the  match ;  that,  on  inquiry 
of  Mr.  Bradford,  they  had  been  informed  the  print 
ing  business  was  not  a  profitable  one ;  that  Keimer 
and  Harry  had  failed,  and  that  he  would  probably 
soon  follow  them.     The  daughter  was,  accordingly, 
shut  up,  and  Franklin  was  forbidden  the  house. 

17.  He  suspected  that  this  was  merely  a  trick  of 

14.  Describe  Mrs.  Godfrey's  desire  of  match-making.     15.  Did 
Franklin  show  his  usual  prudence  ?     16.  What  was  the  result  t 


LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN.  57 

the  parents,  to  induce  him  to  run  away  with  the 
young  lady,  and  leave  them  at  liberty  to  make  what 
terms  they  pleased.  He  immediately  broke  off  the 
connection.  The  Godfreys  were  angry,  quarrelled 
with  him,  and  he  left  the  house. 

18.  He  had  always  continued  on  friendly  terms 
with  the  family  of  the  young  lady  to  whom  he  had 
been  engaged  before  his  visit  to  London.     Her  un 
fortunate  marriage  made  her  very  dejected  and  mis 
erable.     Franklin  saw  her,  and  could  not  help  at 
tributing  her  unhappiness,  in  a  great  measure,  to 
his  own  misconduct. 

19.  Their  mutual  affection  was  revived,  but  there 
were  now  great  objections  to  the  union.     Her  for 
mer  husband  had  not  been  heard  of,  and  was  sup 
posed  to  be  dead.     All  difficulties  were  finally  sur 
mounted,  and  he  JJi^rjy^  Miss  Read  on  the  first  of 
September,  1730  J 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Library  of  the  Junto.  A  public  Library  established. 
Franklin  studies.  His  Frugality.  Anecdote  of  the 
Bowl  and  Spoon.  His  Scheme  of  arriving  at  Moral 
Perfection.  Table  of  Precepts.  Franklin's  Remarks 
upon  it.  Poor  Richard's  Almanac. 

1.  AT  the  time  Franklin  first  established  himself 
in  Pennsylvania,  there  was  not  a  good  bookseller's 
19.  Whom  did  Franklin  marry  ?     When  ? 

C2 


58  LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN. 

shop  any  where  to  the  south  of  Boston.  In  New 
York  and  Philadelphia,  the  printers  were  stationers, 
but  they  kept  only  paper,  almanacs,  ballads,  and  a 
few  common  school  books.  Those  who  loved  read 
ing  were  obliged  to  send  for  their  books  from  Eng 
land. 

2.  The  members  of  the  Junto  had,  each  of  them, 
a  few  volumes.     They  had  hired  a  room,  in  which 
to  hold  their  meetings,  and  Franklin  proposed  that 
they  should  all  bring  their  books  to  that  room.     In 
this  manner  they  would  not  only  be  ready  for  them 
to  consult  and  refer  to,  but  would  become  a  common 
benefit,  by  allowing  each  one  to  borrow  such  as  he 
wished  to  read  at  home. 

3.  This  was  accordingly  done,  and  for  a  while 
answered  their  purpose  very  well.     Finding  the  ad 
vantage  and  convenience^fthis  little  collection, 

^^^^•^**^^ 

Franklin  proposed  to  rentier  the  benefit  more  gen 
eral,  by  commencing  a  public  subscription  library. 
He  drew  a  sketch  of  the  plan  and  rules  that  would 
be  necessary,  and  had  them  put  into  the  form  of 
articles  to  be  subscribed.  By  these  articles,  each 
subscriber  agreed  to  pay  a  certain  sum  for  the  first 
purchase  of  the  books,  and  a  yearly  contribution  for 
increasing  them. 

4.  The  number  of  readers,  at  that  time,  in  Phila 
delphia,  was  so  small,  that  it  was  with  great  diffi- 

2.  What  plan  did  Franklin  propose  for  the  formation  of  a 
library  ?  3.  How  did  it  succeed  ?  How  did  Franklin  propose  to 
extend  its  advantages  ? 


LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN.  59 

culty  Franklin  was  able  to  procure  fifty  subscribers, 
willing  to  pay  forty  shillings  to  begin  with,  and  ten 
shillings  a  year  for  a  contribution.  With  this  num 
ber  the  library  was  commenced.  The  books  were 
imported,  and  lent  out  to  subscribers.  Great  ad 
vantages  were  derived  from  the  institution,  and  it 
was  soon  imitated  in  other  places. 

5.  In  this  library,  Franklin  found  means  of  con 
tinual  improvement.     He  set  apart  an  hour  or  two 
in  each  day  for  study,  and  in  this  way,  in  some  de 
gree,  made  up  for  the  loss  of  a  learned  education. 
Reading  was  his  only  amusement.     His  attention 
to  business  was  as  strict  as  it  was  necessary.     He 
was  in  debt  for  his  printing  house,  and  had  an  in 
creasing  family ;  with  two  rivals  in  his  business, 
who  had  been  established  before  him.     Notwith 
standing  all  this,  however,  he  grew  more  easy  in  his 
circumstances  evety  day^ 

6.  His  early  habits  of  frugality  continued.     He 
often  thought  of  the  proverb  of  Solomon,  which  his 
father  had  impressed  on  him  while  a  boy — "  Seest 
thou  a  man  diligent  in  his  calling  ?  he  shall  stand 
before  kings,  he  shall  not  stand  before  mean  men." 
Industry  appeared  a  means  of  obtaining  wealth  and 
distinction,  and  the  thought  encouraged  him  to  new 
exertions.     We  shall  see,  by  and  by,  that  little  as 

4.  How  many  subscribers  were  obtained  ?  5.  Did  Franklin 
Btill  pursue  his  studies,  and  how  ?  Did  his  early  habits  continue  1 
What  was  the  proverb  so  often  repeated  by  his  father  ? 


60  LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN. 

his  father  expected  it,  the  son  really  came  to  stand, 
with  honor,  in  the  presence  of  monarchs. 

7.  His  wife  was,  fortunately,  as  well  inclined  to 
industry  and  frugality  as  he  was  himself.     She  as 
sisted  him  in  his  business,  folding  and  stitching 
pamphlets,  tending  shop,  and  purchasing  old  linen 
rags  for  the  paper-makers.     They  kept  no  idle  ser 
vants,  their  table  was  simply  furnished,  and  their 
furniture  was  plain  and  cheap. 

8.  "  My  breakfast,"  says  Franklin,  "  was  for  a 
long  time  bread  and  milk  (no  tea),  and  I  ate  it  out 
of  a  twopenny  earthen  porringer,  with  a  pewter 
spoon  :  but  mark   how  luxury  will  enter  families, 
and  make  a  progress  in  spite  of  principle ;  being 
called  one  morning  to  breakfast,  I  found  it  in  a 
china  bowl,  with  a  spoon  of  silver.     They  had  been 
bought  for  me,  without  my  knowledge,  by  my  wife, 
and  had  cost  her  the  enormous  sum  of  three  and 
twenty  shillings ;  for  which  she  had  no  other  ex 
cuse  or  apology  to  make,  but  that  she  thought  her 
husband  deserved  a  silver  spoon  and  china  bowl  as 
well  as  any  of  his  neighbors.     This  was  the  first 
appearance  of  plate  and  china  in  our  house,  which 
afterwards,  in  a  course  of  years,  as  our  wealth  in 
creased,  augmented   gradually  to  several  hundred 
pounds  in  value." 

9.  It  was  about  this  time  that  Franklin  formed 

7.  What  was  the  conduct  of  his  wife  ?  8.  Describe  Franklin's 
breakfast,  and  give  his  humorous  account  of  the  first  appearance 
of  luxury  in  his  house. 


LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN.  61 

the  bold  and  difficult  project  of  arriving  at  moral 
perfection.  As  he  knew,  or  thought  he  knew,  what 
was  right  and  wrong,  he  did  not  see  why  he  might 
not  always  do  the  one  and  avoid  the  other.  For 
this  purpose,  he  made  a  table  of  the  different  virtues, 
with  certain  rules  and  precepts  annexed  to  them. 
Some  of  these  were  as  follows  : 

1.  Temperance. — Eat  not  to  dulness  :  drink  ijptLto  elr 
Y  ovation. 

2.  Silence. — Speak  not  but  what  may  benefit  others  or 

yourself:  avoid  trifling  conversation. 

3.  Order. — Let  all  your  things  have  their  places :  let 

each  part  of  your  business  have  its  time. 

4.  Resolution. — Resolve  to  perform  what  you  o^ 

perform,  without  faiL  what  you^reso.lve. 

I  Frugality. — Make  no  expense  but  to  do  good  to 

1  owners  or  yourself;  that  is?  waste^nothipg-. 

6.  Industry. — ^pse, no  time:  be  alwaysemployed  in 

somethmaij^ejpl  :^u^.o^all  unnecessary^ac- 

7.  Sincerity.— f  se  noffiurtful  deceit :  think  innocently 
l^  and  justly  :  and  if  you  speak,  speak  accordingly. 

8.  Justice. — Wrong  none  by  doing  injuries,  or  omit- 
^  ting  the  benefits  that  are  your  duty. 

9.  Moderation— tAvoid  extremes ;  forbear  resenting 
*/  injuries  so  much  as  youthink  they  deserve. 

10.  Cleanliness.— Tolerate  no  uncleanliness  in  body, 
^  clothes,  or  habitation. 

11.  Tranquillity.— Be  not  disturbed  at  trifles,  nor  at 

accidents  common  or  unavoidable. 

9.  What  was  Franklin's  favorite  project  at  this  time  ?    Repeal 
the  table  of  virtues,  and  the  precepts  annexed  to  them. 

6 


62  LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN. 

10.  To  acquire  a  habit  of  practising  these  virtues, 
he  determined  to  give  a  week's  strict  attention  to 
each  of  them  in  succession.      Thus,  in  the  first 
week,  he  took  care  to  avoid  even  the  slightest  of 
fence  against  temperance,  and  strictly  marked  every 
fault  in  a  little  book  he  kept  for  that  purpose.     This 
book  he  continued  to  keep  for  a  great  number  of 
years ;  till,  in  the  pressure  of  public  business,  he 
was  obliged  to  give  it  up  entirely. 

11.  **  It  is  well,"  he  wrote  in  his  old  age,  "my 
posterity  should  be  informed  that  to  this  little  artifice 
their  ancestor  owed  the  constant  felicity  of  his  life, 
down  to  his  seventy-ninth  year,  in  which  this  is 
wi^ten.     What  reverses  may  attend  the  remainder 
is  m  the  hand  of  Providence ;  but  if  they  arrive,  ttye 
reflection  on  past  happiness  enjoyed  ought  to  help* 
his  bearing  them  with  more  resignation." 

12.  "To   TemperancAhe  ascribes  his  long  con 
tinued  health,  and  what  is  still  left  to  him  of  a  good 
constitution.    To  Industry  and  Frugality,  the  early 
easiness  of  his-  circumstances,   and  acquisition  of  , 
his  fortune,  with  all  that  knowledge  that  enabled 
him  to  be  an  useful  citizen,  and  obtained  for  him 
some  degree  of  reputation  among  the  learned.     To 
Sincerity  and  Justice,  the  confidence  of  his  country, 
and  the  honorable  employs  it  conferred  upon  him : 


10.  How  did  he  attempt  to  acquire  a  habit  of  these  virtues  ? 
12.  To  what  does  Franklin  ascribe  his  long  continued  health? 
the  ease  of  his  circumstances  ?  the  confidence  and  honor  he 
received  from  his  country  ? 


LIFE  OF   FRANKLIN.  63 

and  to  the  joint  influence  of  the  whole  mass  of  the 
virtues,  even  in  the  imperfect  state  he  was  able  to 
acquire  them,  all  that  evenness  of  temper  and  that 
cheerfulness  in  conversation,  which  makes  his  com 
pany  still  sought  for,  and  agreeable  even  to  his  young 
acquaintance :  I  hope,  therefore,  that  some  of  my 
descendants  may  follow  the  example,  and  reap  the 
benefit." 

13.  In  1732,  Franklin  first  published  his  alma 
nac,  under  the  name  of  Richard  Saunders.     It  was 
continued  by  him  about  twenty-five  years,  and  was 
commonly  called  Poor  Richard's  Almanac.     He  en 
deavored  to  make  it  both  entertaining  and  useful,  and 
it  accordingly  came  to  be  in  great  demand,     ^p  it 
was  generally  read,  and  as  the  poor  people  bought 
hardly  any  other  books,  Franklin  thought  it  would 
be  a  good  means  to  circulate  instruction  among 
them.     He,  therefore,  filled  all  the  odd  spaces  with 
proverbs  and  wise  sayings. 

14.  These  proverbs  contained  the  experience  and 
wisdom   of  many   nations   and   ages.      In    1757, 
Franklin  collected  them  into  a  discourse  prefixed 
to  the  almanac  for  that  year.     In  this  discourse,  he 
represented  an  old  man  talking  to  a  number  of  peo 
ple  who  were   attending  a  sale  at  auction.     The 
hour  for  the  sale  not  having  come,  the  company 
were  conversing  on  the  badness  of  the  times. 

13.  When  did  he  first  publish  his  almanac?  How  long  was  it 
continued  ?  How  did  he  endeavor  to  make  it  useful  ?  14.  What 
was  prefixed  to  the  almanac  for  1757  ? 


64  LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN. 

15.  One  of  them  called  out  to  a  plain,  clean  old 
man,  with  white  locks,  "  Pray,   father  Abraham, 
what  think  ye  of  the  times?     Won't  these  heavy 
taxes  quite  ruin  the  country  ?     How  shall  we  be 
ever  able  to  pay  them  ?     What  would  you  advise  us 
to  do?"     Father  Abraham  stood  up,  and  replied, 
"  If  you'd  have  my  advice,  I'll  give  it  to  you  in 
short ;  *  for  a  word  to  the  wise  is  enough  ;  and  many 
words  won't  fill  a  bushel,'  as  Poor  Richard  says." 

16.  The  old  man  then  went  on  to  advise  them  to 
be  industrious  and  economical ;  and,  in  the  course 
of  his  advice,  repeated  all  of  the  wise  sayings  of 
Poor  Richard.     In  this  manner  they  were  all  col- 
lec^d   into  a  single  paper,   called   The   Way  to 
Wealth.      This  piece  was  very   much   approved, 
copied  into  all  the  American  newspapers,  reprinted 
in  Great  Britain,  and  translated  into  the  French 
language.     Large  numbers  of  it  were,  in  this  man 
ner,  distributed,  and  undoubtedly  did  a  good  deal 
of  service. 

16.  How  was  The  Way  to  Wealth  approved  t 


LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN.  65 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Management  of  his  Newspaper.  Study  of  the  Lan 
guages.  Chess-playing.  The  Preacher  HemphUl. 
Stealing  Sermons.  Visit  to  Boston.  Visits  his 
Brother  James  at  Newport.  Usefulness  of  the  Junto. 
Formation  of  new  Clubs.  Franklin  chosen  Clerk  of 
the  General  Assembly.  Anecdote. 

1.  BESIDES  his  almanac,  Franklin  considered  his 
newspaper  as  a  very  valuable  means  of  circulating 
instruction  and  good  advice  among  the  people.     For 
this  purpose  he  frequently  reprinted  in  it  extracts 
from  the  Spectator,  a  work  written   a  good  many 
years  ago,  by  several  distinguished  English  authors. 
It  is  a  collection  of  pieces  on  moral  and  popular 
subjects,  in  a  very  pleasant  style,  and  first  published 
in  single  numbers  of  a  few  pages  each. 

2.  In  conducting  his  paper,  Franklin  was  very 
careful  to   avoid  all   abuse   of  particular  persons. 
Whenever  he  was  requested  to  publish  any  thing  of 
the  kind,  his  answer  was,  that  he  would  print  th 
piece  by  itself,  and  give  the  author  as  many  copie  j 
for  his  own  use  as  he  desired.     He  very  wisely  con 
sidered  that  his  subscribers  expected  him  to  furnisL 
them  with  useful  and  entertaining  pieces,  and  not 

1.  How  did  he  make  his  newspaper  serviceable  in  circulating 
instruction  ?    2.  What  was  he  very  careful  to  avoid  ? 

6* 


66  LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN. 

with  abuse  and  violent  discussions  about  things  with 
which  they  had  nothing  to  do. 

3.  In  1733,  Franklin  sent  one  of  his  apprentices 
to  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  where  a  printer  was 
wanted.     He  furnished  him  with  a  press  and  types, 
and  was  to  receive  one  third  of  the  profits  of  the 
business.     After  the  death  of  this  man,  who  was 
very  irregular  in  settling  his  affairs  with  Franklin, 
the  business  was  continued  by  his  widow.     This 
woman  had  been  born  and  educated  in  Holland, 
where  females  were  taught  a  knowledge  of  accounts. 
She  managed  the  establishment  with  a  great  deal 
of  prudence  and  success,  and  was  in  time  able  to 
purchase  the  printing  office,  and  establish  her  son 
in  it. 

4.  In  1733,  Franklin  began  the  study  of  foreign 
languages.     He  soon  obtained  such  a  knowledge  of 
the  French,  as  to  read  books  in  that  language  with 
perfect  ease.     After  this  he  undertook  the  Italian. 
An  acquaintance,  who  was  also  learning  it,  often 
tempted  him  to  play  chess.     Finding  this  took  up 
too  much  time,  Franklin  refused  to  play  any  more, 
except  upon  one  condition.     This  was,  that  which 
ever  of  them  should  beat,  should  have  a  right  to  im 
pose  a  task  upon  the  other ;  either  of  part  of  the 
grammar  to  be  got  by  heart,  or  in  translations. 


3.  Describe  the  conduct  of  the  woman  whose  husband  Franklin 
had  established  in  business.  4.  When  did  Franklin  begin  the 
»tudy  of  foreign  languages?  What  languages  did  he  study? 
Relate  the  anecdote  about  chess-playing. 


LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN.  37 

5.  These  tasks  they  were  bound  in  honor  to  per 
form  before  the  next  meeting.     The  two  friends 
played  with  about  equal  skill  and  success,  and  in 
this  way  soon  beat  each  other  into  a  pretty  good 
knowledge  of  the  Italian.     Franklin  next  under 
took  Spanish,  and  learned  enough  to  read  books  in 
that  language  with  considerable  ease. 

6.  About  the  year  1734,  a  young  preacher  arrived 
in  Philadelphia,  by  the  name  of  Hemphill.     He  had 
a  good  voice,  and  delivered  very  excellent  sermons. 
Large  numbers  were  attracted  by  his  eloquence,  of 
different  doctrines  and  belief.      Among  the  rest, 
Franklin  became  a  very  constant  hearer.     He  was 
pleased  with  his  sermons,  because  they  impressed 
the  love  and  the  practice  of  virtue  and  goodness, 
without  quarrelling  about  hard  questions  of  doctrinal 
religion. 

7.  Some  of  the  congregation,   however,   disap 
proved  of  his  preaching,  and  united  with  the  old 
ministers  to  attempt  to  put  him  down.     Franklin 
took  sides  with  him  very  warmly,  and  did  all  he 
could  to  raise  a  party  in  his  favor.     He  wrote  two 
or  three  pamphlets  in  his  defence. 

8.  During  this  contest  the  unlucky  preacher  hurt 
his  own  cause  by  a  very  unpardonable  meanness. 
One  of  his  enemies  heard  him  preach  a  very  elo 
quent  sermon,  and  thought  he  had  somewhere  heard 
or  read  parts  of  it  before.     On  looking  into  the  mat- 

6.  Who  was  Hemphill  ?    7.  What  did  Franklin  write  in  hi* 
behalf?     8.  How  did  the  pr«ach«r  ruin  hit  own  cauit? 


68  LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN. 

ter,  he  found  the  preacher  had  stolen  several  pas 
sages  from  a  discourse  delivered  by  a  celebrated 
English  divine.  This  discovery  induced  many  of 
his  friends  to  desert  him,  and  he  was  obliged  to  go 
in  search  of  a  congregation  less  inquisitive. 

9.  After  ten  years'  absence  from  Boston,  Frank 
lin  determined  to  make  a  journey  there  to  visit  his 
relations.     He  was  now  doing  very  good  business, 
and  was  in  quite  easy  circumstances.     He  had  seen 
a  good  many  changes  in  his  fortunes,  since  he  first 
ran  away  from  his  native  place ;  and  his  industry 
and  good  sense  were  to  bring  about  still  greater 
changes. 

10.  In  returning  to  Philadelphia,  he  stopped  at 
Newport,  to  see  his  brother  James,  who  was,  at  that 
time,  settled  there  with  his  printing  office.     Their 
former  differences  were  at  once  forgotten,  and  the 
meeting  was  very  cordial  and  affectionate.     James 
was  at  that  time  in  very  ill  health,  and  in  expecta 
tion  of  a  speedy  death.     He,  accordingly,  requested 
Benjamin,  when  that  event  should  happen,  to  take 
home  his  son,  then  but  ten  years  of  age,  and  bring 
him  up  to  the  printing  business. 

11.  This  he  accordingly  performed,  sending  him 
a  few  years  to  school  before  he  took  him  into  the 
office.     When  James  died,  his  widow  carried  on 


9.  How  long  had  Franklin  been  absent  from  Boston  when  he 
determined  to  revisit  it  ?  10.  How  was  the  interview  between  the 
brothers  at  Newport  ?  What  request  did  James  make  respecting 
hit  son  ?  11.  How  did  Franklin  comply  with  this  request? 


LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN. 


Reconciliation  of  Franklin  with  his  Brother. 


70  LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN. 

the  business  till  her  son  was  grown  up.  At  that 
time,  Benjamin  assisted  them  with  an  assortment  of 
new  types,  and  they  were,  in  this  manner,  enabled 
to  continue  the  establishment. 

12.  The   club   which   Franklin    had     founded 
proved  to  be  so  useful,  and  afforded  so  much  satis 
faction  to  the  members,  that  they  proposed  to  intro 
duce  their   friends,   and    increase    their    number. 
They  had,  from  the  beginning,  determined  to  keep 
the  Junto  a  secret,  and  the  secret  was  kept  better 
than  such   things  usually  are.     Franklin  was  of 
opinion  that  twelve  members  formed  a  club  suffi 
ciently  large,  and  that  it  would   be  inconvenient  to 
increase  it. 

13.  Instead  of  adding  to  their  number,  he  pro 
posed   that  every  member,  separately,   should  en 
deavor  to  form  another  club,  with  the  same  rules 
and  on  the  same  plan,  without  informing  them  of 
the  existence  of  the  Junto.     The  project  was  ap 
proved,  and  every  member  undertook  to  form  his 
club  ;  but  they  did  not  all  succeed.     Five  or  six 
only  were  completed,  which  were  called  by  different 
names,  as  the  Vine,  the  Union,  the  Band.     These 
clubs  were  useful,  and  afforded  their  members  a 
good  deal  of  amusement  and  information. 

14.  In  1736,  Franklin  was  chosen  clerk  of  the 
General   Assembly.     The  choice  was   made  that 

12.  How  did  the  Junto  flourish  ?  13.  What  new  clubs  were 
formed  ?  How  ?  14.  To  what  office  was  Frzmkliii  elected  in 
17S6? 


LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN.  71 

year  without  any  opposition,  but,  on  the  next,  a  new 
member  of  that  body  made  a  long  speech  against 
him.  This,  however,  did  not  prevent  his  second 
election.  The  place  was  one  of  some  credit,  and, 
by  giving  Franklin  an  opportunity  to  make  friends 
among  the  members,  enabled  him  to  secure  the 
business  of  printing  the  public  laws,  votes,  and  pa 
per  money. 

15.  The  new  member,  who  had  opposed  Frank 
lin,  was  a  man  of  education  and  talents,  and  it  was 
desirable  to  gain  his  good  opinion.     Franklin  was 
too  proud  to  pay  any  servile  respect  to  him,  but  was 
too  prudent  not  to  wish  for  his  favor.     After  seme 
time,  with  his  usual  shrewdness  and  knowledge  of 
human  nature,  he  hit  upon  the  following  expedient. 

16.  Having  heard  that  this  gentleman  had  in  his 
library  a  very  scarce  and  curious  book,  he  wrote  a 
note,  requesting  that  he  would  do  him  the  favor  of 
lending  it  for  a  few  days.     The  book  was  imme 
diately  sent,  and  in  about  a  week  was  returned  by 
the  borrower,  with  a  short  note,  expressive  of  his 
sincere  thanks  for  the  favor. 

17.  The  next  time  they  met  in  the  house,  the 
gentleman  spoke  to  Franklin  with  a  great  deal  of 
civility.     He  ever  after  manifested  a  readiness  to 
serve  him,  and  they  became  great  friends.     "  This 
is  another  instance,"  observes  Franklin,  "  of  the 
truth  of  an  old  maxim  I  had  learned,  which  says — 

16.  How  did  Franklin  conciliate  a  member  who  was  opposed  to 
him  ? 


72  LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN. 

'He  that  has  done  you  a  kindness  will  be  more 
ready  to  do  you  another,  than  he  whom  you  yourself 
have  obliged.'  And  it  shows  how  much  more  profit 
able  it  is  prudently  to  remove  than  to  resent,  return, 
and  continue  inimical  proceedings." 

18.  In  1737,  Colonel  Spotswood,  at  that  time 
postmaster-general,  being  dissatisfied  with  his  dep 
uty  at  Philadelphia,  took  away  his  commission,  and 
offered  it  to  Franklin.  He  accepted  it  with  readi 
ness,  and  found  it  of  great  advantage.  Though  the 
salary  was  small,  the  office  gave  him  the  means  of 
increasing  the  subscribers  to  his  paper,  and  in  this 
way  increased  his  advertisements.  His  paper  now 
began  to  afford  him  a  very  considerable  income. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Reform  of  the  City  Watch.  Fire  Companies.  Rev.  Mr. 
Whitefidd.  Effects  of  his  Preaching.  His  Project  of 
building  an  Orphan  House  in  Georgia.  Anecdotes. 
Franklin's  Opinion  of  him.  Franklin's  Prosperity. 
Military  Defence  of  the  Province.  Formation  of 
Companies. 

1.  FRANKLIN  now  began  to  turn  his  attention  to 
public  affairs.  One  of  his  first  efforts  in  this  way 
was  to  reform  the  city  watch.  This  was  managed 

17.  What  is  the  old  maxim  quoted  by  Franklin  ?  18.  To  what 
office  was  Franklin  appointed  in  1737  ? 


LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN.  73 

in  the  different  wards  by  the  constables,  who  as 
sembled  a  certain  number  of  housekeepers  to  attend 
them  for  the  night.  Those  who  did  not  choose  to 
attend  paid  six  shillings  a  year  to  be  excused.  This 
made  the  constableship  an  office  of  profit :  for,  in 
stead  of  spending  the  money  thus  received  in  hiring 
other  watchmen,  it  was  spent  in  liquors,  by  which 
the  constables  were  able  to  get  a  parcel  of  raga 
muffins  about  them,  instead  of  decent  and  orderly 
men. 

2.  These  fellows  seldom  went  the  rounds  of  the 
watch,  but  spent  most  of  the  night  in  tippling.     In 
the  course  of  a  few  years,  by  the  exertions  of  Frank 
lin  and  his  friends,  an  entire  alteration  was  produced 
in  the  laws  upon  this  subject.      About  the  same 
time  that  he  began  to  converse  at  the  Junto  on  the 
abuses  of  the  watch,  he  wrote  a  paper  on  the  differ 
ent  accidents  by  which  houses  were  set  on  fire,  and 
means  proposed  of  avoiding  them. 

3.  This  gave  rise  to  a  project,  which  soon  follow 
ed,  of  forming  a  company  to  assist,  with  readiness, 
at  fires.     Thirty  persons  were  immediately  found, 
willing  to  join  in  the  scheme.     Their  articles  of 
agreement  obliged  every  member  to  keep,  always  in 
order  and  fit  for  use,  a  certain  number  of  leathern 
buckets,  with  strong  bags  and  baskets  for  packing 

1.  What  reform  did  Franklin  introduce,  when  he  first  turned  his 
attention  to  public  affairs  ?  2.  On  what  subject  did  he  write  a 
paper  for  the  Junto !  3.  To  what  project  did  this  give  ris«  T 
How  did  it  succeed  ? 

7  D 


74  LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN. 

and  carrying  goods,  which  were  to  be  brought  at 
every  fire.  They  also  held  a  monthly  meeting,  to 
converse  upon  the  subject  of  fires,  and  communicate 
such  ideas  as  might  be  useful  in  their  conduct  on 
such  occasions. 

4.  This  company  proved  so  useful,  that  another 
was  soon  formed  ;  and  thus  went  on,  one  new  com 
pany  after  another,  till  they  included  most  of  the 
inhabitants  who  were  men  of  property.     The  club 
first  formed  was  called  the  UNION  FIRE  COMPANY, 
and,  we  believe,  still  exists.     These  institutions  have 
been  exceedingly  useful  in  extinguishing  fires  and 
preserving  property. 

5.  In  1739,  the  Reverend  Mr.  Whitefield  arrived 
in  Philadelphia,  from  Ireland.     This  man  had  made 
himself  very  remarkable  as  a  preacher,  going  about 
the  country  and  discoursing,  sometimes  in  churches, 
sometimes  in  the  fields,  to  crowds  of  people,  with 
great  effect.     He  was,  at  first,  permitted  to  preach 
in  some  of  the  churches  in  Philadelphia,  but  the 
clergy  soon  took  a  dislike  to  him,  and  refused  him 
their  pulpits.     This  obliged  him  again  to  discourse 
in  the  streets  and  open  fields. 

6.  Large  multitudes  collected  to  hear  his  sermons. 
"  It  was  wonderful,"  says  Franklin,  "  to  see  the 
change  soon  made  in  the  manners  of  our  inhabitants. 
From  being  thoughtless  or  indifferent  about  religion, 

4.  Was  it  useful  ?  What  was  it  called  ?  5.  What  is  stated  of 
the  Reverend  Mr.  Whitefield  ?  6.  What  does  Franklin  say  of 
the  change  in  the  manners  of  the  inhabitants  T 


LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN.  7/> 

it  seemed  as  if  all  the  world  were  growing  religious, 
so  that  one  could  not  walk  through  the  town  in  an 
evening,  without  hearing  psalms  sung  in  different 
families  of  every  street.  And  it  being  found  incon 
venient  to  assemble  in  the  open  air,  subject  to  its 
inclemencies,  the  building  of  a  house  to  meet  in 
was  no  sooner  proposed,  and  persons  appointed  to 
receive  contributions,  but  sufficient  sums  were  soon 
received  to  procure  the  ground  and  erect  the  build 
ing,  which  was  one  hundred  feet  long  and  seventy 
broad ;  and  the  work  was  carried  on  with  such 
spirit,  as  to  be  finished  in  a  much  shorter  time  than 
could  be  expected." 

7.  On  leaving  Philadelphia,  Mr.  Whitefield  went 
preaching    all    the   way   through   the   colonies   to 
Georgia.     The  settlement  of  that  province  had  then 
been  recently  commenced,  and  was  made  with  peo 
ple  entirely  unfit  for  such  a  service.     They  were 
unable  to  endure  hardships,  and  perished  in  great 
numbers,  leaving  many  helpless  children,  with  noth 
ing  to  feed  or  shelter  them. 

8.  "  The  sight  of  their  miserable  situation,"  says 
Franklin,   "  inspired  the  benevolent  heart  of  Mr. 
Whitefield  with  the  idea  of  building  an  orphan  house 
there,  in  which  they  might  be  supported  and  edu 
cated.     Returning  northward,  he  preached  up  this 
charity,  and  made  large  collections;  for  his  elo 
quence  had  a  wonderful  power  over  the  hearts  and 

7.  Where  did  Mr.  Whitefield  go  on  leaving  Philadelphia  ?    8. 
What  charitable  design  did  he  form  at  this  period  ? 


76  LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN. 

purses  ot  his  hearers,  of  which  I  myself  was  an 
instance. 

9.  "  I  did  not  disapprove  of  the  design,  but  as 
Georgia  was  then  destitute  of  materials  and  work 
men,  and  it  was  proposed  to  send  them  from  Phila 
delphia,  at  a  great  expense,  I  thought  it  would  have 
been  better  to  have  built  the  house  at  Philadelphia, 
and  brought  the  children  to  it.     This  I  advised,  but 
he  was  resolute  in   his  first  project,  rejected  my 
counsel,  and  I,  therefore,  refused  to  contribute. 

10.  "  I  happened,  soon  after,  to  attend  one  of  his 
sermons,  in  the  course  of  which,  I  perceived  he  in 
tended  to  finish  with  a  collection,  and  I  silently 
resolved  he  should  get  nothing  from  me.     I  had  in 
my  pocket  a  handful  of  copper  money,  three  or  four 
silver  dollars,  and  five  pistoles  in  gold  ;  as  he  pro 
ceeded,  I  began  to  soften,  and  concluded  to  give 
the  copper.     Another  stroke  of  his  oratory  made  me 
ashamed  of  that,  and  determined  me  to  give  the 
silver ;  and  he  finished  so  admirably,  that  I  emptied 
my  pocket  wholly  into  the  collector's  dish,  gold  and 
all! 

11.  "At  this  sermon  there  was  also  one  of  our 
club,  who,  being  of  my  sentiments  respecting  the 
building  in  Georgia,   and  suspecting  a  collection 
might  be  intended,  had,-  by  precaution,  emptied  his 
pockets  before  he  came  from  home  ;  towards  the 

9.  What  was  Franklin's  opinion  upon  the  subject  ?  10.  What 
anecdote  does  Franklin  relate  of  the  collection?  11.  What  an 
ecdote  of  a  member  of  the  club  ? 


LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN.  77 

conclusion  of  the  discourse,  however,  he  felt  a  strong 
inclination  to  give,  and  applied  to  a  neighbor  who 
stood  near  him,  to  lend  him  some  money  for  the 
purpose.  The  request  was  fortunately  made  to  per 
haps  the  only  man  in  the  company  who  had  the 
firmness  not  to  be  affected  by  the  preacher.  His 
answer  was,  '  At  any  other  time,  friend  Hopkinson, 
I  would  lend  to  thee  freely ;  but  not  now,  for  thee 
seems  to  me  to  be  out  of  thy  right  senses.' 

12.  "  Some  of  Mr.  Whitefield's  enemies  affected 
to  suppose  that  he  would  apply  these  collections  to 
his  own  private  emolument ;  but  I,  who  was  inti 
mately  acquainted  with  him   (being  employed  in 
printing  his  sermons,  journals,  &,c.),  never  had  the 
least  suspicion  of  his  integrity,  but  am  to  this  day 
decidedly  of  opinion,  that  he  was,  in  all  his  conduct, 
a  perfectly  honest  man  ;  and  methinks  my  testimony 
in  his  favor  ought  to  have  the  more  weight,  as  we 
had  no  religious   connection.     Ours  was  a  mere 
civil  friendship,  sincere  on  both  sides,  and  lasted  to 
his  death. 

13.  "  The  last  time  I  saw  Mr.  Whiten1  eld  was  in 
London,  when  he  consulted  me  about  his  orphan 
house  concern,  and  his  purpose  of  appropriating  it 
to  the  establishment  of  a  college. 

14.  "He  had  a  loud  and  clear  voice,  and  articu 
lated  his  words  so  perfectly  that  he  might  be  heard 

12.  What  does  Franklin  say  of  Mr.  Whitefit  d's  character  ?     13. 
Where  did  Franklin  see  him  for  the  last  time  '     14.  What  does  he 
say  of  his  eloquence  ? 
7* 


78  LIFE  OF.FKANKLltf. 

and  understood  at  a  great  distance ;  especially  as 
his  auditories  observed  the  most  perfect  silence. 
He  preached  one  evening  from  the  top  of  the  court 
house  steps,  which  are  in  the  middle  of  Market 
street,  and  on  the  west  side  of  Second  street,  which 
crosses  it  at  right  angles.  Both  streets  were  filled 
with  hearers  to  a  considerable  distance ;  being 
among  the  hindmost  in  Market  street,  I  had  the 
curiosity  to  learn  how  far  he  could  be  heard,  by  re 
tiring  backwards  down  the  street  towards  the  river, 
and  I  found  his  voice  distinct  till  I  came  near  Front 
street,  when  some  noise  in  that  street  obscured  it. 
I  computed  that  he  might  well  be  heard  by  more 
than  thirty  thousand.  This  reconciled  me  to  the 
newspaper  accounts  of  his  having  preached  to 
25,000  people  in  the  fields,  and  to  the  history  of 
generals  haranguing  whole  armies,  of  which  I  had 
sometimes  doubted." 

15.  Franklin's  business  was  now  constantly  in 
creasing,  and  his  newspaper  had  become  very  profit 
able.     He  began  to  feel  the  truth  of  the  old  proverb, 
"  that  after  getting  the  first  hundred  pounds,  it  is 
more  easy  to  get  the  second."     Those  of  his  work 
men  who  behaved  well,  he  established  in  printing 
houses  in  different  colonies,  on  easy  terms.     Most 
of  them  did  well,  and  were  able  to  repay  him  what 
he  had  advanced,  and  go  on  working  for  themselves. 

16.  At  this  period,  there  were  no  preparations 

By  how  many  did  he  compute  that  he  might  be  heard  at  a  time  ? 
15.  How  were  Franklin's  affairs  succeeding  at  this  time  ? 


LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN.  79 

for  military  defence  in  Pennsylvania.  The  inhab 
itants  were  mostly  Quakers,  and  had  neglected  to 
take  any  suitable  measures  against  the  enemies  to 
whom  they  might  be  exposed.  There  was  also  no 
college  in  the  state,  nor  any  proper  provision  for  the 
complete  education  of  youth.  Franklin  accord 
ingly  turned  his  attention  to  these  very  important 
subjects. 

17.  Spain  had  been  several  years  at  war  with 
Great  Britain,  and  had  now  been  recently  joined  by 
France.     From  the  French  possessions  in  Canada, 
Pennsylvania   was   exposed   to    continual   danger. 
The  governor  of  the  province  had  been  some  time 
trying  to  prevail  upon  the  Quaker  assembly  to  pass 
a  militia  law,  and  take  other  necessary  steps  for 
their  security.     He  tried,  however,  in  vain. 

18.  Franklin  thought  something  might  be  done 
by  a  subscription  among  the  people.     To  promote 
this  plan,  he  wrote  and  published  a  pamphlet  called 
PLAIN  TRUTH.     In  this  he  stated  their  exposed  and 
helpless  situation,  and  represented  the  necessity  of 
union  for  their  defence.     The  pamphlet  had  a  sud 
den  and  surprising  effect.     A  meeting  of  the  citizens 
was   appointed,    and   attended   by   a   considerable 
number.     Proposals  of  the  intended  union  had  been 


16.  To  what  very  important  subjects  did  Franklin  now  turn  his 
attention  ?  17.  How  was  Pennsylvania  exposed  to  danger  ? 
What  obstacle  was  there  to  the  passage  of  a  militia  law  ?  18. 
What  did  Franklin  write  on  the  subject  ?  What  did  he  propose 
for  their  defence  ? 


80  LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN. 

printed,  and  distributed  about  the  room,  to  be  signed 
by  those  who  approved  them.  When  the  company 
separated,  the  papers  were  collected  and  found  to 
contain  above  twelve  hundred  signatures. 

19.  Other  copies  were  scattered  about  the  country, 
and  the  subscribers  at  length  amounted  to  upwards 
of  ten  thousand.     All  these  furnished  themselves, 
as  soon  as  they  could,  with  arms,  formed  themselves 
into  companies  and  regiments,  chose  their  own  offi 
cers,  and  met  every  week  to  be  instructed  in  mili 
tary  exercises.      The  women  made  subscriptions 
among  themselves,  and  provided  silk  colors,  which 
they  presented  to  the  companies,  painted  with  dif 
ferent  ornaments  and  mottoes,  supplied  by  Franklin. 

20.  The  officers  of  the  companies  that  formed 
the  Philadelphia  regiment  chose  Franklin  for  their 
colonel.     Not  considering  himself  fit  for  the  office, 
he  declined  ;  and  recommended  that  Mr.  Lawrence, 
a  man  of  influence  and  of  a  fine  person,  should  be 
chosen  in  his  place.     This  gentleman  was  accord 
ingly  elected. 

21.  Franklin  now  proposed  a  lottery,  to  pay  the 
expense?  of  building  a  battery  below  the  town,  and 
of  furnishing  it  with   cannon.      The   lottery  was 
rapidly  filled,  and  the  battery  soon  erected.     They 
brought  some  old  cannon  from  Boston,  and  these 

19.  How  many  subscribers  were  obtained  to  these  proposals  1 
What  measures  did  they  take  1  20.  To  what  office  was  Frank 
lin  now  chosen,  and  why  did  he  decline  1  21.  By  what  means  was 
the  batterv  erected  and  furnished  1 


LIFE  OF   FRANKLIN.  81 

not  proving  sufficient,  they  sent  to  London  for  more. 
The  associates  kept  a  nightly  guard  at  the  battery, 
and  Franklin  regularly  took  his  turn  of  duty,  as  a 
common  soldier. 

22.  His  activity  in  these  measures  was  agreeable 
to  the  governor  and  council,  and  secured  their  fa 
vor.  They  took  him  into  their  confidence,  and 
consulted  him  on  all  operations  in  respect  to  the 
military.  Franklin  took  the  opportunity  to  propose 
a  public  fast,  to  promote  reformation,  and  implore 
the  blessing  of  Heaven  on  their  undertaking.  They 
embraced  the  motion,  but  as  this  was  the  first  fast 
ever  thought  of  in  the  province,  there  was  no  form 
for  the  proclamation.  Franklin  drew  it  up  in  the 
style  of  the  New  England  proclamation;  it  was 
translated  into  German,  printed  in  both  languages, 
and  circulated  through  the  province.  This  gave 
the  clergy  of  the  different  sects  an  opportunity  of 
influencing  their  hearers  to  join  the  association  ; 
and  it  would,  probably,  have  been  general  among 
all  but  the  Quakers,  if  it  had  not  been  for  the  news 
of  peace. 

22.  What  did  Franklin  propose  ?  How  was  the  proclamation 
for  fast  drawn  up  and  circulated  ?  What  news  was  brought  at 
this  time  ? 

D2 


82  LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN. 


CHAPTER  X. 

Anecdote.  William  Penn.  Education  of  Youth.  Sub 
scription  for  an  Academy.  Franklin  overloaded  ivith 
public  Offices.  Member  of  the  Assembly.  Treaty  unth 
the  Indians  at  Carlisle.  Public  Hospital.  Anecdote. 

1.  IT  was  thought  by  some  of  the   friends   of 
Franklin,  that  he  would  offend  the  peace-loving  sect 
of  Quakers,  by  his  activity  in  these  warlike  prepara 
tions.     A  young  man,  who  had  some  friends  in  the 
assembly,  and  wished  to  succeed  him  as  their  clerk, 
told  him,  in  a  quiet  way,  that  it  was  intended  to  dis 
place  him  at  the  next  election,  and  that,  as  a  friend, 
he  should  advise  him  to  resign. 

2.  The   answer  which   Franklin   made   to   this 
obliging  young  man  was  in  the  following  words : — 
"  I  have  heard  or  read  of  some  public  man,  who 
made  it  a  rule  never  to  ask  for  an  office,  and  never 
to  refuse  one  when  offered  to  him.     I  approve  of 
this  rule,  and  shall  practise  it  with  a  small  addition  ; 
I  shall  never  ask,  never  refuse,  nor  ever  RESIGN  an 
office.     If  they  will  have  my  office  of  clerk  to  dis 
pose  of  it  to  another,  they  shall  take  it  from  me.     I 
will  not  give  it  up."     At  the  next  election,  Frank 
lin  was  unanimously  elected  clerk. 

1.  What  advice  did  Franklin  receive  at  this  time  ?    2.  What 
answer  did  he  return  ?     WThat  was  the  result  of  the  election  ? 


LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN.  83 

8.  Notwithstanding  the  general  sentiments  of  the 
Quakers,  Franklin  thought  the  military  defence  of 
the  country  not  disagreeable  to  any  of  them.  One 
of  their  number,  the  learned  and  honorable  Mr. 
Logan,  wrote  an  address  to  them,  declaring  his  ap 
probation  of  defensive  war,  and  supporting  his  opin 
ion  by  very  strong  arguments.  This  gentleman 
related  an  anecdote  of  his  old  master,  William  Penn, 
in  respect  to  the  subject  of  defence,  which  is  quite 
amusing. 

4.  "He  came  over  from  England,  when  a  young 
man,  as  secretary  to  this  distinguished  Quaker.     It 
was  war  time,  and  their  ship  was  chased  by  an 
armed  vessel,  supposed  to  be   an  enemy.     Their 
captain  prepared  for  defence,  but  told  William  Penn 
and  his  company  of  Quakers,  that  he  did  not  ex 
pect  their  assistance,  and  they  might  retire  into  the 
cabin.     They  all  retired  except  James  Logan,  who 
chose  to  stay  upon  deck,  and  was  quartered  to  a 
gun. 

5.  "The  supposed  enemy  proved  a  friend,  so 
there  was  no  fighting.     When  the  secretary  went  to 
carry  the  information  to  his  friends  in  the  cabin, 
William  Penn  spoke  to  him  in  severe  language  for 
staying  upon  deck,  and  undertaking  to  assist  in  the 
defence  of  the  vessel,  contrary  to  the  principles  of 
the  Friends.     This  reproof,  being  before  all  the 

3.  What  did  Franklin  consider  the  opinion  of  Quakers  on  the 
subject  of  defence  ?  4.  What  anecdote  is  related  of  William 
Penn? 


84  LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN. 

company,  vexed  the  secretary,  who  replied — *  I 
being  thy  servant,  why  did  thee  not  order  me  to 
come  down ;  but  thee  was  willing  enough  that  I 
should  stay  and  help  to  fight  the  ship,  when  thee 
thought  there  was  danger.'  " 

6.  Peace  being  concluded,  and  the  business  of 
defence  at  an  end,  Franklin  next  turned  his  thoughts 
to  the  affair  of  establishing  an  academy.     The  first 
step  he  took  was  to  associate  in  the  design  a  num 
ber  of  his  active  friends  ;  the  next  was  to  write  and 
publish  a  pamphlet,  entitled  "  Proposals  relating  to 
the  Education  of  Youth  in  Philadelphia."     This  he 
distributed  among  the  principal  inhabitants,  and  in 
a  short  time  opened  a  subscription,  for  supporting  an 
academy.     The  subscribers  were  desirous  of  carry 
ing  the  plan  into  immediate  execution.     The  con 
stitutions  for  the  government  of  the  academy  were 
soon  drawn  up  and  signed,  a  house  was  hired,  mas 
ters  engaged,  and  the  school  opened.     This  was  in 
the  year  1749. 

7.  The  scholars  increased  rapidly,  the  house  was 
soon  found  too  small,  when  accident  threw  in  their 
way  a  large  house,  ready  built,  which,  with  a  few 
alterations,  would   exactly    answer   their   purpose. 
This  was  the  building  erected  by  the  hearers  of  Mr. 
Whitefield.     Some  difficulty  had  been  found  by  the 
trustees  in  paying  the  expenses  of  this  church,  and 

6.  To  wnat  did  Franklin  turn  his  attention  on  the  declaration  of 
peace  ?  In  what  year  was  the  academy  founded  ?  7.  What 
building  was  taken  for  the  school  house  ? 


LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN.  85 

they  were  prevailed  upon  to  give  it  up  for  the  acad 
emy.  It  was  soon  made  fit  for  that  purpose,  and 
the  scholars  were  removed  into  the  building.  The 
whole  care  and  trouble  of  superintending  this  work 
fell  upon  Franklin,  who  found  sufficient  leisure  to 
attend  to  it,  from  having  taken  a  very  able  and  in 
dustrious  partner  in  his  printing  business. 

8.  Franklin   now  thought   that  he  should  find 
leisure,  during  the  rest  of  his  life,  to  pursue  his 
philosophical   studies   and   amusements.     He  pur 
chased  all  the  instruments  and  apparatus  of  Dr. 
Spence,  who  had  come  from  England  to  lecture  on 
philosophy  in  Philadelphia.     His  intention  was  to 
proceed  with  diligence  in  his  experiments  in  elec 
tricity.     But  the  public  now  considered  him  a  man 
of  leisure,  and  laid  hold  of  him  for  their  purposes. 

9.  He  seems  to  have  been  quite  overloaded  with 
offices.     The  governor  made  him  a  justice  of  the 
peace.     The  city  corporation  chose  him  a  member 
of  the  common  council,  and  shortly  after  alderman. 
The  citizens  elected  him  to  represent  them  in  the 
assembly,  of  which  he  had  so  long  been  clerk.     All 
these  offices  were  signs  of  the  esteem  and  respect 
in  which  he  was  held  among  his  fellow  citizens. 

10.  Franklin  tried  the   office  of  justice  of  the 
peace  a  little  while,  by  attending  a  few  courts,  and 
sitting  on  the  bench  to  hear  causes.     Finding,  how- 

8.  To  what  pursuits  did  he  now  intend  to  devote  himself? 
What  did  the  public  consider  him  ?  9.  What  offices  did  he  re 
ceive  at  this  time  ? 

8 


86  LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN. 

ever,  that  it  required  more  knowledge  of  the  law 
than  he  possessed,  he  gradually  withdrew  from  it ; 
excusing  himself  by  being  obliged  to  attend  his  du 
ties  as  member  of  the  assembly.  To  this  office  he 
was  chosen  for  ten  years  in  succession,  without  ever 
asking  any  elector  for  his  vote,  or  signifying,  di- 
ectly  or  indirectly,  any  desire  of  the  honor.  On 
taking  his  seat  in  the  house,  his  son  was  appointed 
their  clerk. 

11.  During  the  next  year,  a  treaty  was  to  be  held 
with  the  Indians  at  Carlisle.     The  governor  sent  a 
message  to  the  house,  requesting  that  they  should 
nominate  some  of  their  members,  to  be  joined  with 
some  members  of  council,  for  that  purpose.     The 
house   named   the  speaker,  Mr.   Norris,    and   Dr. 
Franklin;  and  being  commissioned,  they  went  to 
Carlisle  to  treat  with  the  Indians. 

12.  As  the  Indians  were  very  apt  to  drink  to 
excess,  and  when  drunk  were  very  quarrelsome  and 
disorderly,  the  commissioners  strictly  forbade  the 
sale  of  any  liquor  to  them.     When  they  complained 
of  this,  they  were  told  that,  on  condition  of  their 
remaining  perfectly  sober  during  the  treaty,  they 
should  have  plenty  of  rum  when  the  business  was 
over.     They   accordingly  promised  this,  and   kept 
their  promise  for  the  very  best  reason  in  the  world — 
because  they  were  unable  to  break  it.     The  treaty 

10.  Why  did  he  retire  from  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace  ? 
11.  Who  were  appointed  to  treat  with  the  Indians  ?  12.  What 
is  related  of  the  Indians  ? 


LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN.  87 

was  conducted  with  perfect  order,  and  concluded 
to  the  satisfaction  of  both  parties. 

13.  They  then  claimed  and  received  the  rum. 
This  was  in  the  afternoon.     The  Indians  were  about 
one  hundred  in  number,  men,  women  and  children, 
and  were  lodged  in  cabins,  built  in  the  form  of  a 
square,  just  without  the  town.     In  the  evening  there 
was  a  great  noise  among  them,  and  the  commission 
ers  walked  out  to  see  what  was  the  matter.     They 
found  a  great  bonfire  built   in  the  middle  of  the 
square,  and  the  men  and  women,  in  a  state  of  in 
toxication,  fighting  and  quarrelling  around  it.     The 
tumult  could  not  be  stilled,  and  the  commissioners 
retired  to  their  lodgings. 

14.  At  midnight,  a  number  of  the  Indians  came 
thundering  at  their  door,  demanding  more  rum ;  but 
the  commissioners  took  no  notice  of  them.     The 
next  day  they  were  sensible  of  their  misbehavior,  and 
sent  three   of  their    old   counsellors   to  make   an 
excuse.     The  orator  acknowledged  the  fault,  but 
laid  it  upon  the  rum ;  and  then  endeavored  to  ex 
cuse  the  rum,  by  saying — "  The  Great  Spirit,  who 
made  all  things,  made  every  thing  for  some  use,  and 
whatever  use  he  designed  any  thing  for,  that  use  it 
should  always  be  put  to  :  now,  when  he  made  rum, 
he  said,  « Let  this  be  for  the  Indians  to  get  drunk 
with,'  and  it  must  be  so."     It  is  a  sad  truth  that 

How  was  the  treaty  concluded  ?  13.  What  happened  in  the 
evening  ?  14.  What  course  did  they  pursue  the  next  day  1  How 
<lid  the  commissioners  excuse  themselves  ? 


88  LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN. 

among  all  savage  nations,  the  introduction  of  spir 
ituous  liquor  has  been  the  most  severe  curse  that 
ever  fell  upon  them. 

15.  In  1751,  Dr.  Thomas  Bond  formed  a  plan  to 
establish  an  hospital  in  Philadelphia,  for  the  recep 
tion  and  cure  of  poor  sick  persons,  whether  inhab 
itants  of  the  province  or  strangers.     He  was  very 
active  in  endeavoring  to  procure  subscriptions  for  it, 
but  the  proposal  being  new  in  America,  and  at  first 
not  well  understood,  he  met  with  but  little  success. 
At  length  he  came  to  Franklin  with  the  compliment 
that  there  was  no  such  a  thing  as  carrying  a  public- 
spirited  thing  through,  without  his  being  concerned 
in  it.     "  For,"  said  he,  "  I  am  often  asked  by  those 
to  whom  I  propose  subscribing,  Have  you  consulted 
Franklin  on  this  business  1     And  what  does  he  think 
of  it  ?     And  when  I  tell  them  I  have  not,  they  do 
not  subscribe,  but  say,  they  will  consider  it" 

16.  Franklin  inquired  into  the  nature  and  prob 
able  usefulness  of  the  scheme,  and  being  satisfied  in 
respect  to  it,  not  only  subscribed  himself,  but  was 
active  in  procuring  subscriptions  from  others.    Some 
aid  was  obtained  from  the  assembly  of  the  province. 
A   convenient  and   handsome   building   was  soon 
erected,  the  institution  was  found  useful,  and  flour 
ishes  to  the  present  day. 

17.  It  was  about  this  time  that  another  projector, 

15.  Who  proposed  the  plan  for  the  Philadelphia  hospital  ? 
What  compliment  did  he  pay  to  Franklin  ?  16.  Did  Franklin 
approve  of  the  scheme  and  assist  in  it  ? 


LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN.  89 

the  Rev.  Gilbert  Tennent,  came  to  Franklin  with  a 
request  that  he  would  assist  him  in  procuring  sub 
scriptions  to  erect  a  new  meeting-house.  It  was  to 
be  devoted  to  the  use  of  a  congregation  he  had  gath 
ered  among  the  original  disciples  of  Mr.  Whitefield. 
Franklin  was  too  wise  to  make  himself  disagreeable 
to  his  fellow  citizens,  by  such  frequent  calls  upon 
their  generosity,  and  absolutely  refused.  The  gen 
tleman  then  desired  he  would  furnish  him  with  a 
list  of  the  names  of  persons  he  knew  by  experience 
to  be  generous  and  public-spirited.  This,  also,  was 
refused ;  for  it  was  hard  that  their  kind  compliance 
with  a  request  of  charity  should  mark  them  out  to 
be  worried  by  all  who  chose  to  call  upon  them. 

18.  Franklin  was  then  asked  to  give  his  advice. 
"  That  I  will  do,"  he  replied  ;    "  and  in  the  first 
place,  I  advise  you  to  apply  to  all  those  who  you 
know  will  give  something ;  next,  to  those  of  whom 
you  are  uncertain  whether  they  will  give  any  thing 
or  not,  and  show  them  the  list  of  those  who  have 
given  ;  and  lastly,  do  not  neglect  those  who  you  are 
sure  will  give  nothing ;  for  in  some  of  them  you  may 
be  mistaken."     The  clergyman  laughed,  and  prom 
ised  to  take  his  advice.     He  did  so,  for  he  asked  of 
every  body,  and  soon  obtained  money  enough  to 
erect  a  spacious  and  elegant  meeting-house. 

19.  Franklin  now  exerted  himself  in  several  mat 
ters  that,  however  small  they  may  seem,  affected  the 

17.  What  did  Mr.  Gilbert  Tennent  request  of  Franklin  ?     How 
was  his  request  treated  ?     18.  What  advice  did  Franklin  give  ? 
8* 


90  LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN. 

convenience  and  comfort  of  his  fellow  citizens  in  a 
great  degree.  This  was  in  respect  to  cleaning, 
paving,  and  lighting  the  streets.  By  talking,  and 
writing  in  the  papers,  he  was  able  to  introduce  great 
changes  in  these  matters,  which  were  very  impor 
tant  to  the  cleanliness  and  good  appearance  of  the 


CHAPTER   XI. 

Spence's  Experiments  in  Electricity.  Franklin  repeats 
them.  Makes  important  Discoveries.  Letters  to  Col- 
linson.  Experiment  with  the  Kite.  Publication  of 
his  Letters.  Anecdote  of  the  Mbe  JYollct.  Fame  of 
Franklin.  Elected  a  Member  of  the  Royal  Society. 

1.  IT  was  in  the  year  1746,  that  Franklin  first 
attended  to  the  branch  of  philosophy  in  which  he 
afterwards  became  so  distinguished.     During  that 
year  he  was  in  Boston,  and  there  met  with  a  Dr. 
Spence,  who  showed  him  some  experiments  in  elec 
tricity.     It  was  a  subject  altogether  new  to  him, 
and,  though  the  experiments  were  not  very  well  per 
formed,  they  surprised  and  pleased  him. 

2.  If  you  take  a  stick  of  sealing-wax,  or  a  glass 
tube,  or  a  piece  of  amber  which  has  been  a  long 

19.  To  what  smaller  matters  of  public  interest  did  Franklin  now 
attend  ? 

1.  When  did  Franklin  first  attend  to  electricity  ?  2.  Relate  the 
substance  of  the  second  paragraph. 


LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN.  91 

time  untouched,  and  bring  it  near  some  small  pieces 
of  paper,  chaff,  or  other  light  substance,  it  produces 
no  impression  upon  them.  But  if  you  first  rub 
lightly  and  briskly  the  wax,  the  tube,  or  the  amber, 
with  a  piece  of  dry  woollen  cloth,  or  cat  skin,  and 
then  bring  it  near  any  of  these  light  substances,  you 
will  find  that  they  fly  to  it,  and  remain  upon  it. 
The  power  which  attracts  these  substances,  and 
which  is  excited  by  the  rubbing,  is  called  electricity. 

3.  It  is  so  called  from  a  Greek  word  which  sig 
nifies  amber,  the  substance  in  which  this  power  was 
first  observed..     Amber  is  a  brittle  mineral  sub 
stance,  of  a  yellow,  and  sometimes  a  reddish  brown 
color.     It  is  found  in  several  countries  in  Europe, 
and  has  recently  been  found  in  the  United  States, 
at  Cape  Sable,  in  Maryland.     This  is  the  substance 
with  which  the  first  electrical  experiment  was  per 
formed,  ages  ago,  by  a  Greek  philosopher  of  the 
name  of  Thales. 

4.  Several  centuries  passed  without  any  thing 
being  known  upon  this  subject,  beyond  the  fact  that 
these  substances  possessed  this  power.     At  length 
it  began  to  attract  the  attention  of  modern  philoso 
phers.     In  1742,  several   ingenious  Germans  en 
gaged  in  the  subject,  and  the  results  of  their  re 
searches   astonished    all   Europe.     They   obtained 
large  apparatus,  by  means  of  which  they  were  en- 

3.  From  what  is  the  word  electricity  derived  ?  What  is  amber  ? 
Where  is  it  found  ?  4.  When  was  the  subject  first  examined  by 
modern  philosophers  ? 


92  LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN. 

abled  to  collect  large  quantities  of  the  electric  fluid, 
and  produce  several  wonders  which  had  been  before 
unobserved. 

5.  These  experiments  excited  the  curiosity  of 
other  philosophers.     Mr.  Peter  Collinson,  fellow  of 
the  Royal  Society  of  London,  about  the  year  1745, 
sent  to  the  library  company  of  Philadelphia  a  glass 
tube,  with  some  account  of  its  use  in  making  such 
experiments.     Franklin  eagerly  seized  the  oppor 
tunity  of  repeating  those  which  he  had  seen  at  Bos 
ton,  and,  by  much  practice,  acquired  great  readiness 
in  performing  those  of  which  they  had  an  account 
from  England. 

6.  He  was  soon  enabled  to  make  a  number  of 
important  discoveries,  and  his  house  was,  for  some 
time,  continually  full  of  people  who  came  to  see  the 
new  wonders.     His  observations  upon  the  subject 
were,  from  time  to  time,  communicated  to  his  friend 
Collinson,  in  a  series  of  letters,  the  first  of  which 
is  dated  March  28,  1747.     These  were  read  before 
the  Royal  Society,  where  they  were  not  at  first 
thought  worthy  of  much  attention. 

7.  In  the  year  1749,  Franklin  first  suggested  the 
idea  of  explaining  the  sameness  of  electricity  with 
lightning.     A  paper  upon  this  subject,  which   he 
wrote  for  Mr.  Kinnersly,  was  read  before  the  mem 
bers  of  the  Royal  Society,  and  excited   a  hearty 

5.  What  did  Mr.  Collinson  send  to  Philadelphia  ?  7.  When 
did  Franklin  first  suggest  that  electricity  and  lightning  were  the 
game  7 


LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN.  93 

laugh.  But  it  was  the  lot  of  this  neglected  theory 
to  be  generally  adopted  by  philosophers,  and  to  bid 
fair  to  endure  for  ages. 

8.  It  was  in  the  same  year,  that  Franklin  started 
the  plan  of  proving  the  truth  of  his  doctrine,  by 
actually  drawing  down  the  lightning,  by  means  of 
sharp-pointed  iron  rods  raised  high  into  the  clouds. 
It  was  not  until  the  summer  of  1752,  that  he  was 
enabled  to  complete  his  grand  discovery  by  actual 
experiment. 

9.  The  plan  which  he  had  first  proposed  was,  to 
erect  a  box  on  some  high  tower,  or  other  elevated 
place,  from  which  should  rise  a  pointed  iron  rod. 
He  thought  that  electrified  clouds,  passing  over  it, 
would  impart  a  portion  of  their  electricity,  which 
would  be  made  evident  by  presenting  a  key  or  the 
knuckle  to  it.     There  was  atr  this  time,  in  Phila 
delphia,  no  opportunity  of  trying  an  experiment  of 
the  kind.     But  while  Franklin  was  waiting  for  the 
erection  of  a  spire,  it  occurred  to  him  that  he  might 
have  a  more  ready  access  to  the  clouds  by  means 
of  a  common  kite. 

10.  He  prepared  a  kite  by  fastening  two  cross 
sticks  to  a  silk  handkerchief,  which  would  not  suffer 
from  the  rain  so  much  as  paper.     To  the  upright 
stick  he  affixed  an  iron  point.     The  string  was,  as 

8.  How  did  he  propose  to  prove  the  truth  of  his  doctrine  ? 
When  did  he  prove  it  by  actual  experiment  ?  9.  What  plans  had 
he  at  first  proposed?  What  occurred  to  him  afterwards?  10. 
How  did  he  prepare  the  kite  ? 


94  LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN. 

usual,  of  hemp,  excepting  the  lower  end,  which  was 
made  of  silk,  because  this  substance  does  not  give 
a  free  passage  to  the  electricity. 

11.  With  this  kite,  on  the  appearance  of  a  thun 
der  storm,  he  went  out  into  the  commons  with  his 
son,  to  whom  alone  he  had  communicated  his  in 
tentions.     He  placed  himself  under  a  shed  to  avoid 
the  rain  ;  his   kite   was  raised — a  thunder  cloud 
passed  over  it,  but  no  sign  of  electricity  appeared. 
The  experiment  had  almost  been  given  up  in  despair, 
when  he  perceived,  in  the  loose  fibres  of  the  string, 
evident  appearances  of  electricity.     By  continued 
observation  the  fact  was  most  clearly  proved ;  and 
the  honor  of  establishing  the  sameness  of  electricity 
and  lightning  was  won  by  Franklin. 

12.  The  letters  which  Franklin  had  sent  to  Mr. 
Collinson  were  published  by  that  gentleman  in  a 
separate  volume,  under  the  title  of  «'  New  Experi 
ments  and  Observations  on  Electricity,   made  at 
Philadelphia,  in  America."     They  were  read  with 
great  eagerness,  and  soon  translated  into  different 
languages.     A  very  incorrect   French  translation 
fell  into  the  hands  of  the  celebrated  Buffon,  who  was 
much  pleased  with  it,  and  performed  the  experi 
ments  with  success.     A  more  correct  translation 
was  undertaken  at  his  request,  and  contributed  much 
towards  spreading  a  knowledge  of  Franklin's  prin- 

11.  Relate  the  progress  of  the  experiment.  12.  Under  what 
title  were  Franklin's  letters  on  the  subject  printed  ?  How  were 
they  received  ?  By  whose  request  was  a  correct  French  translation 
made? 


LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN.  95 

ciples  in  France.  His  experiments  were  repeated 
by  most  of  the  distinguished  philosophers  through 
out  Europe. 

13.  By  these  experiments,  the  truth  of  Franklin's 
doctrine  was  established  in   the   firmest  manner. 
When  it  could  no  longer  be  doubted,  some  men 
were  anxious  to  take  away  from  its  merit.     It  was 
considered  at  that  time  rather  mortifying  to  the  Eu 
ropean  philosophers,  to  admit  that  an  American 
could  make  important  discoveries  which  had  escaped 
their  notice. 

14.  The  Abbe  Nollet,  preceptor  in  natural  phi 
losophy  to  the  royal  family  of  France,  was  exceed 
ingly  offended  at  the  publication  of  Franklin's  let 
ters.     He  had  himself  written  about  electricity,  and 
could  not  at  first  believe  that  such  a  work  had  really 
come  from  America.     He  s-aid  it  must  have  been 
composed  by  his  enemies  in  Paris,  to  oppose  his 
system.     Afterwards,  having  been  assured  that  there 
really  existed  such  a  person  as  Franklin  at  Phila 
delphia,  he  published  a  volume  of  letters,  in  defence 
of  his  own  ideas  upon  the  subject,  and  denying  the 
propositions  of  the  American  philosopher. 

15.  Franklin  thought  at  one  time  of  writing  a 
letter  in  reply  to  the  abbe,  and  actually  began  one. 
But  on  considering  that  any  one  might  repeat  his 
experiments,  and  ascertain  for  himself  whether  or 

13.  What  was  the  result  of  the  establishment  of  Franklin's  doc 
trine  ?  14.  What  was  the  conduct  of  the  Abbe  Nollet?  15.  What 
course  did  Franklin  pursue  on  the  subject  ? 


96  LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN. 

not  they  were  true,  he  concluded  to  let  his  papers 
shift  for  themselves  ;  believing  it  was  better  to  spend 
what  time  he  could  spare  in  making  new  experi 
ments  than  in  disputing  about  those  already  made. 

16.  The  event  gave  him  no  cause  to  repent  of 
his  silence.     His  friend,  Monsieur  Le  Roy,  of  the 
Royal  Academy  of  Sciences,  took  up  his  cause,  and 
refuted  the  abbe.      Franklin's  volume  was  trans 
lated  into  the  Italian,  German  and  Latin  languages  j 
and  the  doctrine  it  contained  was,  by  degrees,  gen 
erally  adopted  by  the  philosophers  of  Europe,  in 
preference  to  that  of  Nollet. 

17.  What  gave  his  book  the  more  sudden  and 
general  celebrity  was  the  success  of  one  of  its  pro 
posed  experiments,   made    at  Marly,  for   drawing 
lightning  from  the  clouds.     This  engaged  the  pub 
lic  attention  every  where.     The  "  Philadelphia  ex 
periments,"   as  they  were  called,  were  performed 
before  the  king  and  court,  and  all  the  curious  of 
Paris  flocked  to  see  them. 

18.  Dr.  Wright,  an  English  physician,  was  at 
Paris  when  they  were  the  talk  and  wonder  of  the 
day.     He  wrote  to  a  member  of  the  Royal  Society 
an  account  of  the  high  esteem  in  which  the  experi 
ments  of  Franklin  were  held  by  learned  men  abroad 
and  of  their  surprise  that  his  writings  had  been  so 

16.  Did  he  regret  his  silence  ?  State  the  substance  of  this  par 
agraph.  17.  What  gave  the  book  the  more  general  celebrity  ? 
18.  Who  was  Dr.  Wright  ?  \Vhat  communication  did  he  make 
to  the  Royal  Society  ? 


LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN.  97 

little  noticed  in  England.  The  society,  on  this, 
resumed  the  consideration  of  the  letters  that  had 
been  read  to  them,  and  a  summary  account  of  their 
doctrines  was  drawn  up  and  published  among  their 
philosophical  essays  and  transactions. 

19.  To  make 'Franklin  some  amends  for  the  slight 
with  which  they  had  before  treated  him,  the  society 
chose  him  a  member,  without  his  having  made  the 
usual  application.  They  also  presented  him  with 
the  gold  medal  of  Sir  Godfrey  Copley  for  the  year 
1753,  the  delivery  of  which  was  accompanied  by  a 
very  complimentary  speech  from  the  president,  Lord 
Macclesfield. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

Appointed  Postmaster-  General.  Journey  to  New  Eng 
land.  Receives  Degrees  from  two  Colleges.  Story  of 
the  Visit  to  his  Mother. 

1.  HAVING  been  some  time  employed  by  the  post 
master-general  of  America  in  regulating  the  several 
offices,  and  bringing  the  officers  to  account,  upon 
his  death,  in  1753,  Franklin  was  appointed,  jointly 
with   another   gentleman,   to   succeed   him.     The 
American  office  had  before  this  time  never  paid  any 
thing  to  that  of  Great  Britain ;  and  the  new  post- 
19.  What  honors  did  the  society  confer  upon  him  ? 
1.  What  appointment  did  Franklin  receive  at  this  time. 

9  E 


98  LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN. 

masters  were  to  have  six  hundred  pounds  between 
them,  if  they  could  make  that  sum  out  of  the  profits 
of  the  office. 

2.  To  do  this,  a  variety  of  improvements  were 
necessary,  some  of  which  were  at  first  very  expen 
sive  ;  so  that,  for  the  first  four  years,  the  office  became 
more  than  nine  hundred  pounds  in  debt  to  them. 
Afterwards  they  began  to  be  repaid,   and  before 
Franklin  was  displaced,  they  had  brought  it  to  yield 
three  times  as  much  clear  profit  to  the  crown,  as  the 
post-office  of  Ireland.     After  Franklin's  dismission, 
they  never  received  a  farthing  from  it. 

3.  The  business  of  the  post-office  occasioned  his 
taking  a  journey  to  New  England,  where  the  Col 
lege  of  Cambridge  presented  him  with  the  degree 
of  Master  of  Arts.     Yale  College,  in  Connecticut, 
had  before  paid  him  a  similar  compliment.     Thus, 
without  studying  in  any  college,  he  came  to  partake 
of  their  honors.     They  were  conferred  in  consider 
ation  of  his  discoveries  and  improvements  in  natural 
philosophy. 

4.  It  was  either  during  this  or  his  former  journey 
that  the  story  of  the  visit  to  his  mother  originated. 
He  had  been  some  years  absent  from  his  native  city, 
and  was  at  that  period  of  life  when  the  greatest  and 
most  rapid  alteration  is  made  in  the  human  appear 
ance.     Franklin  was  sensible  that  his  person  had 

2.  Was  the  post-office,  under  Franklin,  a  source  of  revenue  to 
the  crown  ?  3.  What  honors  did  Franklin  receive  from  the  col- 
leges  ? 


LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN.  99 

been  so  much  changed  that  his  mother  would  not 
know  him,  unless  there  were  some  instinct  to  point 
out,  at  a  single  glance,  the  child  to  its  parent. 

5.  To  discover  the  existence  of  this  instinct  by 
actual  experiment,  Franklin  determined  to  intro 
duce  himself  to  his  mother  as  a  stranger,  and  to 
watch  narrowly  for  the  moment  in  which  she  should 
discover  her  son.     On  the  afternoon  of  a  sullen  cold 
day,  in  the  month  of  January,  he  knocked  at  his 
mother's  door,  and  asked  to  speak  with  Mrs.  Frank 
lin.     He  found  the  old  lady  knitting  before  the  par 
lor  fire,  introduced  himself,  by  observing  that  he  had 
been  informed  she  entertained  travellers,  and  re 
quested  a  night's  lodging. 

6.  She  eyed  him  with  coldness,  and  assured  him 
that  he  had  been  misinformed — that  she  did  not 
keep  a  tavern  ;  though,  to  oblige  some  members  of 
the  legislature,  she  took  a  number  of  them  into  her 
family  during  the  session  ;  and  at  that  time  had  four 
members  of  the  council  and  six  of  the  house  of 
representatives  who  boarded  with  her.     She  added 
that  all  her  beds  were  full,  and  went  on  knitting 
with  a  great  deal  of  vehemence. 

7.  Franklin  wrapped  his  coat  around  him,  pre 
tending  to  shiver  with  the  cold,  and  observing  that 
it  was  very  chilly  weather.     It  was,  of  course,  noth 
ing  more  than  civil  for  the  old  lady  to  ask  him  to 

5.  Why  did  Franklin  introduce  himself  to  his  mother  as  a 
stranger  ?  In  what  situation  did  he  find  her?  6.  How  did  she 
receive  him  ? 


100  LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN. 

stop  and  warm  himself.     She  pointed  to  a  chair, 
and  he  drew  himself  up  to  the  fire. 

8.  The  entrance  of  her  boarders  prevented  any 
further  conversation.     Coffee  was  soon  served,  and 
the  stranger  partook  with  the  rest  of  the  family. 
To  the  coffee,  according  to  the  custom  of  the  times, 
succeeded  a  plate  of  apples,  pipes,  and  a  paper  of 
tobacco.     A  pleasant  circle  of  smokers  was  then 
formed  about  the  fire.     Agreeable  conversation  fol 
lowed.      Jokes    were    cracked,  stories  told,   and 
Franklin  was  so  sensible  and  entertaining  as  to 
attract  the  attention  of  the  whole  company. 

9.  In  this  manner  the  moments  passed  pleasantly 
and  swiftly  along,  and  it  was  eight  o'clock  before 
any  of  them  expected  it.     This  was  the  hour  of 
supper,  and  Mrs.  Franklin  was  always  as  punctual 
as  the  clock.     Busied  with  family  affairs,  she  sup 
posed  the  stranger  had  quitted  the  house  imme 
diately  after  coffee.     Imagine  her  surprise,  when 
she  saw  him,  with  the  utmost  coolness  and  impu 
dence,  taking  his  seat  with  the  family  at  the  supper 
table ! 

10.  Immediately  after  supper,  she  called  an  el 
derly  gentleman,   a  member  of  the  council,   with 
whom  she  was  in  the  habit  of  consulting,  into  an 
other    room  ;    complained  of  the  rudeness  of  the 
stranger,  told  the  manner  of  his  coming  into  the 
house,  observed  that  he  appeared  like  a  foreigner, 
and  she  thought  had  something  about  him  very  sus- 

8.  What  was  the  evening'  custom  at  that  time  ? 


LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN.  101 

picious.  The  old  gentleman  assured  her  that  she 
need  not  be  under  any  alarm,  that  the  stranger  was 
a  man  of  education  and  agreeable  manners,  and  was, 
probably,  unaware  of  the  lateness  of  the  hour.  He 
added,  that  it  would  be  well  to  call  him  aside,  and 
repeat  to  him  that  she  was  unable  to  give  him 
lodgings. 

11.  She  accordingly  sent  her  maid  to  him,  and 
then  repeated  the  account  of  their  situation,  observed 
that  it  grew  late,  and  gently  hinted  that  he  would 
do  well  to  seek  out  other  accommodations.     The 
stranger  replied  that  he  should  be  very  sorry  to  put 
her  to  any  inconvenience,  and  would  retire  after 
smoking  one  more  pipe  with  her  boarders.     He  re 
turned  to  the  company,  filled  his  pipe,  and  began 
talking  as  pleasantly  and  forcibly  as  ever.     He  re 
counted  the  hardships,  and  praised  the  piety  and 
wisdom  of  their  ancestors. 

12.  A  gentleman  present  mentioned  the  subject 
of  the  day's  debate  in  the  house  of  representatives. 
A  bill  had  been  introduced  to  extend  the  powers  of 
the  royal  governor.     The  stranger  immediately  en 
tered  upon  the  subject,  supported  the  rights  of  the 
colonies  with  many  arguments  and  much  eloquence, 
and  showed  a  great  familiarity  with  the  names  of 
influential  members  of  the  house  in  the  time  of 
Governor  Dudley. 

13.  The  conversation  was  so  animated  and  in 
teresting  that  the  clock  struck  eleven,  unnoticed  by 
the  delighted  circle.     The  patience  of  Mrs.  Frank- 

9* 


102  LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN. 

lin  was  by  this  time  completely  exhausted.  She 
now  entered  the  room,  and,  before  the  whole  com 
pany,  addressed  the  stranger  with  much  anger ;  told 
him  plainly  that  she  thought  herself  imposed  upon ; 
hat  she  was  a  lone  woman,  but  had  friends  who 
would  protect  her ;  and  concluded  by  telling  him  to 
leave  the  house.  Franklin  made  a  slight  apology, 
put  on  his  great  coat  and  hat,  took  a  polite  leave  of 
the  company,  and  approached  the  street  door,  lighted 
by  the  maid,  and  attended  by  the  mistress. 

14.  While  the  company  had  been  enjoying  them 
selves  within,  a  most  tremendous  snow  storm  had 
filled  the  streets,  knee-deep ;    and  no  sooner  had 
the  maid  lifted  the  latch,  than  a  roaring  wind  forced 
open  the  door,  put  out  the  light,  and  almost  filled 
the  entry  with  drifted  snow  and  hail.     As  soon  as 
the  candle  was  relighted,  the  stranger  cast  a  mourn 
ful  look  on  the  lady  of  the  mansion,  and  said — "  My 
dear  madam,  if  you  turn  me  out  of  your  house  in 
this  dreadful  storm,  I  am  a  stranger  in  the  town, 
and  shall  certainly  perish  in  the  streets.     You  look 
like  a  charitable  lady ;  I  should  not  think  you  could 
refuse  shelter  to  a  dog  on  such  a  night." 

15.  "  Don't  tell  me  of  charity,"  said  the  offended 
matron  ;  "  charity  begins  at  home.     It  is  your  own 
fault  that  you  staid  so  long.      In  short,  sir,  I  do 
not  like  your  looks,  or  your  conduct  in  thus  forcing 
yourself  upon  my  family,  and  I  fear  you  have  some 
bad  designs." 

16.  The  good  lady  had  grown  so  angry  as  to  raise 


LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN.  103 

her  voice  much  above  its  ordinary  pitch,  and  the 
noise  drew  all  the  company  into  the  entry.  They 
did  not  agree  with  Mrs.  Franklin  in  respect  to  the 
stranger  at  all.  He  seemed  to  them  to  be  a  very 
honest,  clever-looking  fellow,  and  so  far  from  wish 
ing  to  turn  him  out  of  the  house,  there  was  not  one 
of  them  but  would  have  been  glad  to  have  him  for  a 
fellow-boarder.  They  thought  him  very  sensible 
and  pleasant,  and  could  not  account  for  their  land 
lady's  aversion. 

17.  At  length,  by  their  united  interference,  the 
stranger  was  permitted  to  remain   in   the  house. 
There  was  no  bed  or  part  of  a  bed  unoccupied,  and 
he  was  obliged  to  sleep  all  night  in  an  easy  chair, 
before  the  parlor  fire.     Although  her  boarders  ap 
peared  to  have  perfect  confidence  in  his  honesty,  it 
was  not  so  with  Mrs.  Franklin.     She  very  carefully 
collected  her  silver  spoons,  pepper  box  and  porrin 
ger  from  her  closet,  and,  after  securing  the  parlor 
door,  by  sticking  a  fork  over  the  latch,  carried  them 
to  her  chamber.     She  charged  the  negro  man  to 
sleep  with  his  clothes  on — to  take  the  great  cleaver 
to  bed  with  him,  and  to  wake  up  and  seize  the  va 
grant  at  the  first  noise  he  made  in  plundering  the 
house.     The  good  lady  then  retired  to  bed  with  her 
maid,  whom  she  compelled  to  sleep  in  the  same 
room. 

18.  After  a  very  restless  night,  Mrs.  Franklin 
rose  before  the   sun.      She  called  her  domestics, 
proceeded  with  them  in  a  body  to  unfasten  the  par- 


)04  LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN. 

lor  door.  To  her  great  astonishment,  she  found  her 
guest  quietly  sleeping  in  his  chair.  She  now  began 
to  feel  sorry  for  her  suspicions.  Awaking  him  with 
a  cheerful  good  morning,  she  inquired  how  he  had 
rested,  and  invited  him  to  partake  of  her  breakfast, 
which  was  always  served  before  that  of  the  boarders. 

19.  "  Pray,  sir,"  said  the  old  lady,  as  they  were 
sipping  their  chocolate  at  the  breakfast  table,  "  as 
you  appear  to  be  a  stranger  here,  to  what  distant 
country  do  you  belong  ?" 

20.  Franklin  put  a  little   more  sugar   into   his 
chocolate,  and,  helping  himself  to  a  slice  of  toast, 
replied,  that  he  belonged  to  the  city  of  Philadelphia. 
At  the  mention  of  this  word,  the  old  lady,  for  the 
first   time,  exhibited   emotion.       "  Philadelphia  ?" 
said  she — "if  you  live  in  Philadelphia,  perhaps  you 
know  our  Ben  ?" 

21.  ««  Who,  madam  ?"  replied  Franklin,  in  the 
came  cool  and  undisturbed  manner  that  he  had  put 
on  ever  since  he  entered  the  house.     "  Why,  Ben 
Franklin,"  said  the  mother ;  "  my  Ben — oh  !  he  is 
the  dearest  child  that  ever  blessed  a  mother  !" 

22.  "  What,"  said  the  stranger,  "  is  Ben  Frank 
lin,  the  printer,  your  son  ?  Why,  he  is  my  most  inti 
mate  friend  :  he   and  I  lodge  in  the  same  room." 
" O !  Heaven  forgive  me!"  exclaimed  the  old  lady  ; 
"  and  have  I  suffered  an  acquaintance  of  my  Benny 
to  sleep  on  this  hard  chair,  while  I  myself  rested 
on  a  good  bed  !" 

23.  We  can  well  imagine  that  the  mother  was 


LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN.  105 

very  much  astonished  when  she  found  that  it  was 
not  an  acquaintance  of  her  son,  but  her  son  him 
self,  whose  countenance  and  person  had  been  so 
much  changed,  that  she  had  even  been  on  the  point 
of  turning  him  out  of  doors  !  She  was  delighted  to 
embrace  him  once  more  before  she  died,  and  was 
quite  pleased  that  the  members  of  the  council  had 
found  him  so  agreeable  a  fellow  as  to  insist  that  he 
should  remain  all  night  in  the  house. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

Congress  at  Many.  Plan  for  a  Union  of  the  Colonies. 
Arrival  of  General  Braddock.  Franklin  sent  to  him 
by  the  Assembly.  Want  of  Wagons.  Franklin  un 
dertakes  to  procure  them.  His  Advertisement.  Anec 
dote  of  Braddock.  Battle  with  the  Indians.  Retreat. 

1.  IN  1754,  there  was  again  a  prospect  of  war 
with  France.  A  congress  of  commissioners  from 
the  different  colonies  was  ordered  to  be  assembled 
at  Albany,  to  confer  with  the  chiefs  of  the  Six  Na 
tions  of  Indians,  in  respect  to  the  defence  of  the 
country.  The  governor  of  Pennsylvania  communi 
cated  this  order  to  the  assembly,  and  nominated 
Franklin,  with  Mr.  Norris,  Mr.  Penn,  and  Mr.  Pe 
ters,  to  act  as  commissioners.  Presents  were  pro- 

1.  Why  were  commissioners  from  the  colonies  ordered  to  as 
semble  at  Albany  ?  Who  were  sent  from  Pennsylvania? 

E2 


106  LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN. 

vided  for  the  Indians,  and  they  all  met  at  Albany 
about  the  middle  of  June. 

2.  On  his  way  thither,  Franklin  projected  and 
drew  up  a  plan  for  the  union  of  all  the  colonies  un 
der  one  government,  so  far  as  might  be  necessary 
for  defence  and  other  important  services.      This 
plan  was  shown  to  two  or  three  of  his  friends,  and, 
having  met  with  their  approbation,  was  submitted 
to  congress.     It  then  appeared  that  several  of  the 
commissioners  had  formed  projects  of  the  same  kind. 
A  committee  was  appointed  to  consider  the  several 
plans,  and  report.     That  proposed  by  Franklin  was 
finally  adopted  with  a  few  alterations :  copies  of  it 
were  sent  to  the  British  government  and  to  the  as 
semblies  of  the  several  provinces. 

3.  The  British   government   were   unwilling  to 
permit  the  union  proposed  at  Albany,  from  a  fear 
that  the  colonies  would  become  too  military  and  feel 
their  own  strength.     They  accordingly  sent  over 
General  Braddock,  with  two  regiments  of  regular 
English  troops,  for  the  purpose  of  protecting  them. 
This  officer,  with  his  forces,  landed  at  Alexandria, 
and  marched  thence  to  Fredericktown  in  Maryland, 
where  he  halted  for  carriages.     Franklin  was  sent 
by  the  assembly  to  wait  upon  him  at  this  place,  in 
order  to  arrange  some  matters  which  had  occurred 
to  excite  serious  misunderstanding. 

2.  What  plan  did  Franklin  draw  up  ?  3.  Why  did  the  British 
government  disapprove  of  the  proposed  union  ?  What  course  did 
they  pursue  ?  Why  was  Franklin  sent  to  Fredericktown  ? 


LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN.  107 

4.  His  son  accompanied  him  upon  this  journey. 
They  found  the  general  at  Fredericktown,  waiting, 
impatiently,  for  the  return  of  those  whom  he  had 
sent  through  the  back  parts  of  Maryland  and  Vir 
ginia  to  collect  wagons.     Franklin  staid  with  him 
several  days,  dined  with  him  daily,  and  had   full 
opportunity  of  removing  his  prejudices.     When  he 
was  about  to  depart,  it  had  been  ascertained  that 
only  twenty-five  wagons  could  be  procured,  and  not 
all  of  them  fit  for  use. 

5.  The  general   and  all  the  officers  were  very 
much  surprised,  and  declared  that  the  expedition 
was  entirely  at  dn  end.     They  exclaimed  bitterly 
against  their  government  for  sending  them  into  a 
country  destitute  of  the  means  of  carrying  their 
stores  and  baggage,  for  which  no  less  than  one  hun 
dred  and  fifty  wagons  wero  necessary.     Franklin 
remarked  that  it  was  a  pity  they  had  not  been  landed 
in  Pennsylvania,  as  in  that  country  almost  every 
farmer  had  his  wagon.     The  general  caught  at  his 
words,  and  eagerly  said — "  Then  you,  sir,  who  are 
a  man  of  interest  there,  can  possibly  procure  them 
for  us ;  and  I  beg  you  will  undertake  it." 

6.  Franklin  asked  what  terms  were  to  be  offered 
to  the  owners  of  the  wagons  ;  and  he  was  desired  to 
put  on  paper  the  terms  that  appeared  to  him  neces 
sary.     This  he  did  ;  and  they  were  accepted.     He 

5.  What  impeded  the  progress  of  the  expedition  ?  How  did 
General  Braddock  obviate  this  difficulty  ?  6.  What  step  did 
Franklin  take  to  procure  the  wagons  ? 


108  LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN. 

soon  after  published  an  advertisement,  offering  to 
contract  for  certain  wagons  and  horses,  on  specified 
terms  ;  and  to  this  added  an  address  to  the  inhabit 
ants  of  the  counties  of  York,  Lancaster  and  Cum 
berland.  The  address  was  in  the  following  words: 

7.  ««  Friends  and  Countrymen, — Being  occasion 
ally  at  the  camp  at  Frederick,  a  few  days  since,  I 
found  the  general  and  officers  exceedingly  exasper 
ated  on  account  of  their  not  being  supplied  with 
horses  and  carriages,  which  had  been  expected  from 
this  province,  as  most  able  to  furnish  them  ;  but, 
through  the  dissensions  between  our  governor  and 
assembly,  money  had  not  been  provided,  nor  any 
steps  taken  for  that  purpose. 

8.  «« It  was  proposed  to  send  an  armed  force  im 
mediately  into  these  counties,  to  seize  as  many  of 
the  best  carriages  and  horses  as  should  be  wanted, 
and  compel  as  many  persons  into  the  service,  as 
would  be  necessary  to  drive  and  take  care  of  them. 

*  *  *  *  * 

9.  "  If  you  are  really,  as  I  believe  you  are,  good 
and  loyal  subjects  to  his  majesty,  you  may  now  do 
a  most  acceptable  service,  and  make  it  easy  to  your 
selves  ;  for  three  or  four  of  such  as  cannot  separate 
ly  spare,  from  the  business  of  their  plantations,  a 
wagon  and  four  horses  and  a  driver,  may  do  it  to 
gether  ;  one  furnishing  the  wagon,  another  one  or 
two  horses,  and  another  the  driver,  and  divide  the 
pay  proportionably  between  you. 

10.  "  But  if  you  do  not  this  service  to  your  king 


LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN.  10^ 

and  country  voluntarily,  when  such  good  pay  and 
reasonable  terms  are  offered  to  you,  your  loyalty  will 
be  strongly  suspected.  The  king's  business  must 
be  done.  So  many  brave  troops,  come  so  far  for 
your  defence,  must  not  stand  idle  through  your 
backwardness  to  do  what  may  be  reasonably  ex 
pected  from  you.  Wagons  and  horses  must  be  had  ; 
violent  measures  will  probably  be  used  ;  and  you 
will  be  left  to  seek  for  recompense  where  you  can 
find  it,  and  your  case,  perhaps,  be  little  pitied  or 
regarded. 

11.  "I  have  no  particular  interest  in  this  affair, 
as  (except  the  satisfaction  of  endeavoring  to  do  good) 
I  shall  have  only  my  labor  for  my  pains.     If  this 
method  of  obtaining  the  wagons  and  horses  is  not 
likely  to  succeed,  I  am  obliged  to  send  word  to  the 
general  in  fourteen  days ;  and  I  suppose  Sir  John 
St.  Clair,  the  hussar,  with  a  body  of  soldiers,  will 
immediately  enter  the  province  for   the   purpose; 
which  I  shall  be  very  sorry  to  hear,  because  I  am, 
very  sincerely  and  truly, 

"  Your  friend  and  well-wisher, 

"  B.  FRANKLIN." 

12.  Eight  hundred  pounds  were  furnished  by  the 
general,  to  be  paid  out  as  advance  money  to  the  own 
ers  of  the  wagons  and  horses.     This  sum  not  being 
large  enough,  Franklin  advanced  upwards  of  two 

12.  How  much  was  furnished  by  the  British  general  to  be  paid 
in  advance  to  the  owners  of  the  wagons  and  horses  ?  How  much 
did  Franklin  furnish  ? 

10 


1 10  LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN. 

hundred  pounds  more.  In  two  weeks,  the  one  hun 
dred  and  fifty  wagons,  with  two  hundred  and  fifty- 
nine  carrying  horses,  were  on  their  way  to  the  camp. 
The  advertisement  promised  payment  in  case  any 
wagons  or  horses  should  be  lost ;  and  as  the  owners 
knew  nothing  about  the  dependence  to  be  placed 
on  General  Braddock,  they  insisted  on  Franklin's 
bond  for  the  performance.  This  he  accordingly 
gave  them. 

13.  General  Braddock  was  a  brave  man,  but  had 
too  much  self-confidence,  too  high  an  opinion  of  the 
power  of  regular  troops,  and  too  mean  an  idea  of 
both  Americans  and  Indians.     About  one  hundred 
Indians  joined  him  on  his  march,  who  might  have 
been  of  great  use  to  him  as  guides  and  scouts,  if  he 
had  treated  them  kindly.    He  neglected  and  slighted 
them,  however,  and  they  gradually  left  him. 

14.  In  conversation  one  day  with  Franklin,  he 
gave  an  account  of  his  intended  progress.     "  After 
taking  Fort  Duquesne,"  said  he,  "  I  am  to  proceed 
to  Niagara  ;  and,  having  taken  that,  to  Frontenac, 
if  the  season  will  allow  time,  and  I  suppose  it  will ; 
for  Duquesne  can  hardly  detain  me  above  three  or 
four  days ;  and  then  I  see  nothing  that  can  obstruct 
my  march  to  Niagara." 

15.  Franklin   knew   something   about   marches 
through  the  woods,  and  the  tricks  of  the  Indians, 

13.  What  was  the  character  of  General  Braddock  ?  How  did 
be  treat  the  Indians  who  joined  him  on  his  march  ?  H.  What 
werr  tb  »  general's  plans  ? 


LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN.  Ill 

and  entertained  serious  doubts  in  respect  to  the 
success  of  the  campaign.  He  only  ventured,  how 
ever,  to  say — "  To  be  sure,  sir,  if  you  arrive  well 
before  Duquesne  with  the  fine  troops,  so  well  pro 
vided  with  artillery,  the  fort,  though  completely  for 
tified,  and  assisted  with  a  very  strong  garrison,  can 
probably  make  but  a  short  resistance.  The  only 
danger  I  apprehend  of  obstruction  to  your  march,  is 
from  the  ambuscades  of  the  Indians,  who,  by  con 
stant  practice,  are  dexterous  in  laying  and  executing 
them ;  and  the  slender  line,  near  four  miles  long, 
which  your  army  must  make,  may  expose  it  to  be 
attacked  by  surprise  in  its  flanks,  and  to  be  cut  like 
a  thread  into  several  pieces,  which,  from  their  dis 
tance,  cannot  come  up  in  time  to  support  each 
other." 

16.  Braddock  smiled  at  his  ignorance,  and  re 
plied — "  These  savages  may,  indeed, be  a  formidable 
enemy  to  your  raw  American  militia;  but  upon  the 
king's  regular   and  disciplined  troops,  sir,  it  is  im 
possible  they  should  make  any  impression." 

17.  The  enemy  did  not  take  that  advantage  of 
the  army  under  Braddock  which  Franklin  antici 
pated.     They  suffered  it  to  approach  without  inter 
ruption  till  within  nine  miles  of  Fort  Duquesne. 
The  troops  had  just  crossed  a  river,  were  in  a  more 
open  part  of  the  woods  than  any  they  passed,  and 
moving  forward  in   a  compact  form.      Their  ad- 

15.  What  did  Franklin  tell  him  ?     16.  What  was  Braddock'g 
irply  ?     17.  Where  were  the  British  troops  first  attacked  ? 


112  LIFE  OF  FRANKLIX. 

vanced  guard  was  suddenly  attacked  by  a  heavy 
fire  from  behind  trees  and  bushes.  This  was  the 
first  intelligence  which  the  general  had  of  the  ap 
proach  of  an  enemy. 

18.  The   guard   being   disordered,  the   general 
hurried  the  troops  up  to  their  assistance.     This  was 
done  in  great  confusion,  through  wagons,  baggage, 
and  cattle.     They  were  now  attacked  also  from  be 
hind.     The  officers  were  on  horseback,  and  easily 
distinguished  and  picked  out  as  marks  by  the  ene 
my.     The  soldiers  were  thrown  together  in  great 
disorder,  having  or  hearing  no  orders,  and  standing 
to  be  shot  at,  till  two  thirds  of  them  were  killed ; 
then,  being  seized  with  a  panic,  the  remainder  fled 
in  precipitation. 

19.  The  wagoners  took  each  a  horse  out  of  his 
team,  and  scampered.     Their  example  was  imme 
diately  followed  by  others,  so  that  all  the  wagons, 
provisions,  artillery  and  stores  were  left  to  the  ene 
my.     The  general,  being  wounded,  was  brought  off 
with  difficulty  ;  out  of  eighty-six  officers,  sixty-three 
were  killed  or  wounded ;  and  seven  hundred  and 
fourteen  men  killed,  of  eleven  hundred. 

20.  These  men  had  been  picked  from  the  whole 
army  ;  the  rest  had  been  left  behind  with  Colonel 
Dunbar,  who  was  to  follow  with  the  heavier  parts 
of  the  baggage.     The  fugitives  arrived  at  Dunbar's 
camp,  and  communicated  their  own  panic  to  him 

18.  What  was  the  prop-ess  of  the  battle  ?     19.  What  became 
of  the  wagon^  and  artillery?     20.   Where  did  the  fugitives  resort? 


LIFE  OF  FRAl>ivLLN.  113 

and  all  his  people.  Though  he  had  now  above  a 
thousand  men,  he  determined  not  to  meddle  with 
the  enemy,  but  to  make  the  best  of  his  way  to  the 
settlements.  Notwithstanding  requests  from  the 
governor  of  Virginia,  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania, 
that  he  would  post  his  troops  on  the  frontiers  to  pro 
tect  the  inhabitants,  he  continued  his  hasty  and  dis 
graceful  march  till  he  had  arrived  at  snug  quarters  in 
Philadelphia. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

Settlement  for  the  I^ossof  Wagons.  Anecdote.  Prepara 
tions  for  Defence.  Franklin  appointed  to  a  military 
Command.  .Assembles  the  Troops  at  Bethlehem. 
Farmers  killed  by  Indians.  Building  Forts.  Ex 
tracts  from  Franklin's  Journal.  Indian  Cunning. 
Anecdotes  of  the  Moravians. 

1.  As  soon  as  the  loss  of  the  wagons  and  horses 
was  generally  known,  all  the  owners  came  upon 
Franklin  for  the  valuation  which  he  had  given  bond 
to  pay.  Their  demands  troubled  him  exceedingly. 
He  informed  them  that  the  money  was  ready  in  the 
paymaster's  hands,  but  the  order  for  paying  it  must 
first  be  obtained  from  General  Shirley  ;  that  he  had 
applied  for  it ;  and  they  must  have  patience  till  he 

What  was  Colonel  Dunbar's  conduct  ? 

1.  To  what  embarrassment  was  Franklin  now  exposed  t 

10* 


114  LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN 

could  receive  it.  All  this,  however,  was  not  suffi 
cient,  and  some  began  to  sue  him.  General  Shirley 
at  length  released  him  from  this  disagreeable  situa 
tion,  by  appointing  commissioners  to  examine  the 
claims,  and  order  payment.  They  amounted  to 
nearly  twenty  thousand  pounds. 

2.  Before  receiving  news  of  the  defeat,  two  gen 
tlemen  came  to  Franklin  with  a  subscription  paper 
for  raising  money  to  pay  the  expense  of  a  grand  fire 
work,  which  it  was  intended  to  exhibit  on  receiving 
the  news  of  taking  Fort  Duquesne.     Franklin  told 
them  gravely,  that  he  thought  it  would    be  time 
enough  to  prepare  for  rejoicing  when  they  knew 
they  should  have  occasion  to  rejoice.     They  seemed 
surprised  that  he  did  not  immediately  comply  with 
their  proposal.     "  Why,"  said  one  of  them,  "  you 
surely  do  not  suppose  that  the  fort  will  not  be  taken  ?" 
*'  I  don't  know,"  replied  Franklin,  "  that  it  will  not 
be  taken ;  but  I  know  that  the  events  of  war  are 
subject  to  great  uncertainty."     The  plan  was  for 
tunately  abandoned. 

3.  The  assembly  now  laid  a  tax,  to  raise  money 
for  the  defence  of  the  province,  and  Franklin  was 
appointed  one  of  the  commissioners  to  dispose  of  it. 
He  had  also  carried  a  bill  through  the   house  for 
establishing  and   disciplining  a  voluntary  militia. 
To  promote  the  association  necessary  to  form  the 

How  was  he  relieved  ?  2.  Relate  the  anecdote  in  respect  to 
the  subscription  for  fire-works.  3.  What  tax  was  now  laid  by 
the  assembly  ?  \Yhat  bill  did  Franklin  carry  through  the  house  T 


LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN.  115 

militia,  he  wrote  a  dialogue  upon  the  subject,  which 
was  extensively  circulated,  and  thought  to  have 
great  effect. 

4.  While  the  several  companies  in  the  city  and 
country  were  forming,  and  learning  their  exercise, 
the  governor  prevailed  upon  Franklin  to  take  charge 
of  the  north-western  frontier,  which  was  infested  by 
the  enemy,  and  provide  for  the  defence  of  the  in 
habitants,  by  raising  troops,  and  building  a  line  of 
forts.     Franklin  did  not  think   himself  very  well 
qualified  for  the  military,  but  was  willing  to  be  of 
all  the  service  in  his  power.     He  received  a  com 
mission  from  the  governor,  with  full  authority,  and 
a  parcel  of  blank  commissions  for  officers,  to  be 
given  to  whom  he  thought  fit.     Five  hundred  and 
sixty  men  were  soon  raised  and  placed  under  his 
command. 

5.  The  place  first  selected  for  a  fort  was  Gnaden- 
hutten,  a  village  settled  by  the  Moravians,  and  which 
had  recently  been  the  scene  of  terrible  destruction 
and  death.     In  order  to  march  thither,  Franklin 
assembled  the  companies  at  Bethlehem,  the  chief 
establishment  of  those  people.     He  was  surprised 
to  find  this  place  in  a  good  state  of  defence.     The 
destruction  of  Gnadenhutten  had  made  them  appre 
hensive  of  danger. 

6.  They  had  purchased  a  quantity  of  arms  and 

4.  What  charge  was  now  committed  to  Franklin  ?  How  many 
men  were  placed  under  his  command  ?  5.  What  place  was  se 
lected  for  a  fort  ?  By  whom  was  Gnadenhutten  settled  ? 


116  LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN. 

ammunition  from  New  York,  and  had  even  placed 
quantities  of  small  paving  stones  between  the  win 
dows  of  their  high  houses,  to  be  thrown  down  upon 
the  heads  of  any  Indians  that  should  attempt  to  force 
into  them.  The  armed  brethren  kept  watch,  and 
relieved  each  other  as  regularly  as  in  any  garrison 
town. 

7.  In  conversation  with  their  bishop,  Spangen- 
6erg,  Franklin  mentioned  his  surprise  ;  for,  know 
ing  they  had  obtained  an  act  of  parliament  excusing 
them  from  military  duties  in  the  colonies,  he  sup 
posed  they  had  motives  of  conscience  which  forbade 
their  bearing  arms.     The  bishop  answered — "  That 
it  was  not  one  of  their  established  principles  ;  but 
that  at  the  time  of  their  obtaining  that  act  it  was 
thought  to  be  a  principle  with  many  of  their  people. 
On  this  occasion,  however,  to  their  surprise  they 
found  it  adopted  but  by  a  few."     A  strong  sense  of 
danger  very  soon  overcomes  such  notions. 

8.  It  was  the  beginning  of  January  when  they 
set  out  upon  the  business  of  building  forts.     One 
detachment  was  sent  towards  the  Minisink,  with 
directions  to  erect  one  for  the  upper  part  of  the 
counlvy,  and  another  to  the  lower  part,  with  similar 
directions.     Franklin  went  in  person,  with  the  re 
maining  troops,  to  Gnadenhutten,  where  a  force  was 
thought  more  immediately  necessary.     The  Mora- 

6.  What  measures  had  the  inhabitants  of  Bethlehem  taken  for 
Defence  T  7.  What  was  the  conversation  of  Franklin  with  the 
nishop  Spangenberg?  8.  Where  were  the  forts  built  ? 


LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN.  117 

vians  procured  him  five  wagons  for  their  tools,  stores, 
and  baggage. 

9.  Just  before  they  left  Bethlehem,  eleven  farm 
ers,  who  had  been  driven  from  their  homes  by  the 
Indians,  came  to  Franklin,  requesting  a  supply  of 
fire-arms,  that  they  might  go  back  and  bring  off 
their  cattle.     He  gave  them  each  a  gun  with  suit 
able  ammunition. 

10.  They  had  not  marched  many  miles  when  it 
began  to  rain,  and  it  continued  raining  all  day. 
There  were  no  habitations  on  the  road  to  shelter 
them,  till  they  reached,  about  night,  the  house  of  a 
German.     Here,  in  the  barn  and  shed,  they  were 
all  huddled  together  as  wet  as  water  could  make 
them.     It  was  well  for  them  that  they  were  not  at 
tacked  upon  the  march,  for  their  arms  were  of  the 
poorest  sort,  and  it  was  impossible  to  keep  the  locks 
of  their  guns  dry.     The  poor  farmers,  before  men 
tioned,  suffered  on  this  account.     They  met  with 
the  Indians,  and,  the  primings  being  wet  with  rain, 
their  guns  would  not  go  off,  so  that  only  one  of  them 
escaped  with  his  life. 

11.  The  next  day  was  fair.     The  companies  con 
tinued  their  march,  and  arrived  at  the  desolate  Gna- 
denhutten.     There  was  a  mill  in  the  neighborhood, 
round  which  several   pine   boards  had  been  left. 
With  these  they  soon  built  themselves  huts.     Their 
next  work  was  to  bury  the  dead  they  found  there. 

9.  Relate  the  substance  of  the  ninth  and  tenth  paragraphs.     11. 
What  was  done  on  arriving  at  Gnadenhutten  ? 


118  LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN. 

On  the  following  morning  their  fort  was  planned 
and  marked  out,  with  a  circumference  measuring 
four  hundred  and  fifty-five  feet.  Their  axes,  of 
which  they  had  severity,  were  immediately  set  to 
work  to  cut  down  trees  for  palisades ;  and,  as  the 
men  were  very  skilful  in  the  use  of  them,  they  made 
great  despatch. 

12.  Seeing  the  trees  fall  so  fast,  Franklin  had 
the  curiosity  to  look  at  his  watch  when  two  men 
began  to  cut  at  a  pine.     In  six  minutes  they  had  it 
upon  the  ground,  and  it  was  fourteen  inches  in  di 
ameter.     Each  pine  made  three  palisades  of  eigh 
teen  feet  long,  pointed  at  one  end.     While  these 
were  preparing,  other  men  dug  a  trench  all  round, 
of  three  feet  deep,  in  which  the  palisades  were  to 
be  planted.     When  these  were  set  up,  the  carpenters 
built  within  them  a  platform  of  boards  all  round, 
about  six  feet  high,  for  the  men  to  stand  on  and  fire 
through  the  loopholes.     They  had  one  swivel  gun, 
which  they  mounted,  and  fired  as  soon  as  it  was 
fixed,  that  the  Indians  might  know  they  had  such 
pieces.     Thus  their  fort,  such  as  it  was,  was  finished 
in  a  week,  though  it  rained  so  hard  every  other  day 
that  the  men  were  almost  unable  to  work. 

13.  "This  gave  me  occasion  to  observe,"  says 
Franklin,  "  that  when  men  are  employed  they  are 
best  contented.     For  on  the  days  they  worked  they 

12.  How  was  the  fort  constructed  ?  How  long  did  it  take  to 
build  it  1  13.  What  remarks  does  Franklin  make  about  keeping 
employed  ? 


LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN.  119 

were  good-natured  and  cheerful,  and,  with  the  con 
sciousness  of  having  done  a  good  day's  work,  they 
spent  the  evening  jollily.  But,  on  our  idle  days, 
they  were  mutinous  and  quarrelsome,  finding  fault 
with  the  pork  and  the  bread,  and  were  continually 
in  bad  humor ;  which  put  me  in  mind  of  a  sea  cap* 
tain,  whose  rule  it  was  to  keep  his  men  constantly 
at  work;  and  when  his  mate  once  told  him  that 
they  had  done  every  thing,  and  there  was  nothing 
further  to  employ  them  about,  4  O,'  said  he, « make 
them  scour  the  anchor.'  " 

14.  "  This  kind  of  fort,"  he  continues,  "  however 
contemptible,  is  a  sufficient  defence  against  Indians 
who  have  no  cannon.  Finding  ourselves  now  posted 
securely,  and  having  a  place  to  retreat  to  on  occa 
sion,  we  ventured  out  in  parties  to  scour  the  adja 
cent  country.  We  met  with  no  Indians,  but  we 
found  the  places,  on  the  neighboring  hills,  where 
they  had  lain  to  watch  our  proceedings.  There 
was  an  art  in  their  contrivance  of  those  places  that 
seems  worth  mentioning. 

15.  "  It  being  winter,  a  fire  was  necessary  for  them ; 
but  a  common  fire,  on  the  surface  of  the  ground, 
would,  by  its  light,  have  discovered  their  position  at 
a  distance;  they  had,  therefore,  dug  holes  in  the 
ground  about  three  feet  in  diameter,  and  somewhat 
deeper  ;  we  found  where  they  had,  with  their  hatch 
ets,  cut  off  the  charcoal  from  the  side  of  burnt  logs 

14.  What  does  Franklin  say  of  the  fort  ?  15.  How  did  they 
manage  to  conceal  their  fires  ? 


120  LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN. 

lying  in  the  woods.  With  these  coals  they  had 
made  small  fires  in  the  bottom  of  the  holes,  and  we 
observed,  among  the  weeds  and  grass,  the  prints  of 
their  bodies,  made  by  their  lying  all  round,  with  their 
legs  hanging  down  in  the  holes,  to  keep  their  feet 
warm ;  which,  with  them,  is  an  essential  point. 
This  kind  of  fire,  so  managed,  could  not  discover 
them  either  by  its  light,  flame,  sparks,  or  even 
smoke ;  it  appeared  that  the  number  was  not  great, 
and  it  seems  they  saw  we  were  too  many  to  be  at 
tacked  by  them  with  prospect  of  advantage. 

16.  "  We  had  for  our  chaplain  a  zealous  Presby 
terian  minister,  Mr.  Beatty,  who  complained  to  me 
that  the  men  did  not  generally  attend  his  prayers 
and  exhortations.     When  they  enlisted  they  were 
promised,  besides  pay  and  provisions,  a  gill  of  rum  a 
day,  which  was  punctually  served  out  to  them,  half 
in  the  morning  and  half  in  the  evening,  and  I  observ 
ed  they  were  punctual  in  attending  to  receive  it. 

17.  "  Upon  which  I  said  to  Mr.  Beatty,  '  It  is  per 
haps  below  the  dignity  of  your  profession  to  act  as 
steward  of  the  rum  ;  but  if  you  were  to  distribute  it 
out  only  just  after  prayers,  you  would  have  them  all 
about  you.'     He  liked  the  thought,  undertook  the 
task,  and,  with  the  help  of  a  few  hands  to  measure 
out  the  liquor,  executed  it  to  satisfaction  ;  and  never 
were  prayers  more  generally  and  more  punctually 
attended.     So  that  I  think  this  method  preferable 
to  the  punishment  inflicted  by  some  military  laws 
for  non-attendance  on  divine  service. 


LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN.  121 

18.  "  I  had  hardly  finished  this  business,  and  got 
my  fort  well  stored  with  provisions,  when  I  received 
a  letter  from  the  governor,  acquainting  me  that  he 
had  called  the  assembly,  and  wished  my  attendance 
there,  if  the  posture  of  aifairs  on  the  frontiers  was 
such  that  my  remaining  there  was  no  longer  neces 
sary.     My  friends,  too,  of  the  assembly  pressing  me 
by  their  letters  to  be,  if  possible,  at  the  meeting, 
and  my  three  intended  forts  being  now  completed, 
and  the  inhabitants  contented  to  remain  on  their 
farms  under  that  protection,  I  resolved  to  return ; 
the   more    willingly,    as   a  New-England    officer, 
Colonel  Clapham,  experienced  in  Indian  war,  be 
ing  on  a  visit  to  our  establishment,  consented  to 
accept  the  command. 

19.  "  I  gave  him  a  commission,  and,  parading  the 
garrison,  had  it  read  before  them,  and  introduced 
him  to  them  as  an  officer,  who,  from  his  skill  in 
military  affairs,  was   much  more  fit  to  command 
them  than  myself;  and  giving  them  a  little  exhorta 
tion,  took  my  leave.     I  was  escorted  as  far  as  Beth 
lehem,  where  I  rested  a  few  days  to  recover  from 
the  fatigue  I  had  undergone.     The  first  night,  lying 
on  a  good  bed,  I  could  hardly  sleep,  it  was  so  differ 
ent  from  my  hard  lodging  on  the  floor  of  a  hut  at 
Gnadenhutten,  with  only  a  blanket  or  two. 

20.  "  While  at  Bethlehem,  I  inquired  a  little  into 
the  practices  of  the  Moravians;  some  of  them  had 


8.  Why  did  Franklin  leave  the  fort  ?    Who  succeeded  him  7 

11  F 


122  LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN. 

accompanied  me,  and  all  were  very  kind  to  me.  I 
found  they  worked  for  a  common  stock,  ate  at  com 
mon  tables,  and  slept  in  common  dormitories,  great 
numbers  together.  In  the  dormitories  I  observed 
loop-holes  at  certain  distances,  all  along  just  under 
he  ceiling,  which  I  thought  judiciously  placed  for 
hange  of  air.  I  went  to  their  church,  where  I  was 
entertained  with  good  music,  the  organ  being  ac 
companied  with  violins,  hautboys,  flutes,  and  clar 
ionets. 

21.  "  I  understood  their  sermons  were  not  usually 
preached  to  mixed  congregations  of  men,  women 
and  children,  as  is  our  common  practice  ;  but  that 
they  assembled  sometimes  the  married  men,  at  other 
times  their  wives,  then  the  young  men,  the  young 
women,  and  the  little  children ;  each  division  by 
itself.     The  sermon  I  heard  was  to  the  latter,  who 
came  in  and  were  placed  in  rows  on  benches,  the 
boys  under  the  conduct  of  a  young  man,  their  tutor ; 
and  the  girls  conducted  by  a  young  woman.     The 
discourse  seemed  well  adapted  to  their  capacities, 
and  was  delivered  in  a  pleasing,  familiar  manner, 
coaxing  them,  as  it  were,  to  be  good.     They  be 
haved  very  orderly,  but  looked  pale  and  unhealthy, 
which  made  me  suspect  they  were  kept  too  much 
within  doors,  or  not  allowed  sufficient  exercise. 

22.  "  I  inquired  concerning  the  Moravian  mar- 

20.  What  does  Franklin  say  of  the  practice  of  the  Moravians  T 
Of  their  dormitories?  Of  their  church?  21.  What  is  said  of 
their  congregation  ? 


LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN.  123 

riages,  whether  the  report  was  true  that  they  were 
by  lot.  I  was  told  that  lots  were  used  only  in  par 
ticular  cases,  that  generally,  when  a  young  man 
found  himself  disposed  to  marry,  he  informed  the 
elders  of  his  class,  who  consulted  the  elder  ladies 
that  governed  the  young  women.  As  these  elders 
of  the  different  sexes  were  well  acquainted  with  the 
tempers  and  dispositions  of  their  respective  pupils, 
they  could  best  judge  what  matches  were  suitable, 
and  their  judgments  were  generally  acquiesced  in. 
23.  "  But  if,  for  example,  it  should  happen  that 
two  or  three  young  women  were  found  to  be  equally 
proper  for  the  young  man,  the  lot  was  then  recurred  to. 
I  objected,  if  the  matches  are  not  made  by  the  mu 
tual  choice  of  the  parties,  some  of  them  may  chance 
to  be  very  unhappy.  *  And  so  they  may,'  answered 
my  informer,  l  if  you  let  the  parties  choose  for  them 
selves.'  Which,  indeed,  I  could  not  deny." 

22.  How  are  the  Moravian  marriages  conducted  ?    23.  What 
did  Franklin  suggest  on  this  subject  ?    What  was  the  reply  ? 


124  LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

Disputes  with  the  Proprietaries.  Franklin  sent  by  the 
•Assembly  to  London.  Appointed  general  Agent  for 
the  Colonies.  University  Honors.  The  Jlrmonica. 
Murder  of  the  friendly  Indians. 

1.  SOON  after  his  return  to  Philadelphia,  Frank 
lin  was  appointed  by  the  assembly  upon  a  very  im 
portant  mission.     From  the  earliest  establishment 
of  Pennsylvania,  there  seems  to  have  been  a  spirit 
of  dispute  among  its  inhabitants.     During  the  life 
time  of  William  Penn,  the  constitution  had  been 
three  times  altered.     After  this  time  quarrels  were 
continually   arising   between   the   proprietaries  or 
their  governors  and  the  assembly. 

2.  The  proprietaries  were  the   descendants  of 
those  to  whom  the  lands  were  originally  granted  by 
the  king.     They  claimed  particular  privileges  for 
their  estates ;    and  among  other  Ihings  that  they 
should  be  free  from  taxes.     To  this  the  assembly 
would  by  no  means  consent.     This  subject  of  dis 
pute  interfered  in  almost  every  question,  and  pre 
vented  the  passage  of  the  most  necessary  laws. 

3.  The  assembly  at  length  resolved  to  appeal  to 
the  king  against  the  unjust  claims  of  the  proprie 
taries,  and  appointed  Franklin  as  their  agent,  to  go 

2.  Who  were  the  proprietaries  ?  What  did  they  claim  ?  How 
<hd  the  assembly  treat  their  claim  ?  3.  What  course  did  the 
assembly  pursue  7 


LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN.  125 

over  to  England  and  present  their  petition.  After 
some  delay  and  detention  by  the  governor,  under 
the  pretence  of  bringing  about  an  accommodation, 
Franklin  sailed  from  New  York  towards  the  end  of 
June,  and  arrived  in  London  on  the  twenty-seventh 
of  July,  1757. 

4.  According  to  the  instructions  which  he  had 
received  from  the  legislature,  Franklin  had  a  meet 
ing  with  the  proprietaries  who  then  resided  in  Eng 
land,  and  endeavored  to  prevail  on  them  to  give  up 
their  pretensions.     Finding  it  impossible  to  derive 
any  satisfaction  from  them,  he  laid  his  petition  be 
fore  the  council.     During  this  time,  the  governor 
of  Pennsylvania  had  consented  to  a  law  imposing  a 
tax,  in  which  no  distinction  was  made  in  favor  of 
the  estates  of  the  Penn  family. 

5.  Alarmed  at  this  intelligence,  and  by  Franklin's 
exertions,  they  used  their  utmost  endeavors  to  pre 
vent  this  law  from  receiving  the  royal  approbation. 
They  represented  it  as  highly  unjust,  designed  to 
throw  the  burden  of  supporting  government  upon 
them,  and  tending  to  produce  the  most  ruinous  con 
sequences  to  them  and  their  posterity. 

6.  The  cause  was  very  fully  examined  before  the 
king's  privy  council.     The  Penn  family  here  found 

Why  was  Franklin  sent  to  England  ?  When  did  he  arrive  in 
London  ?  4.  What  course  did  Franklin  pursue  in  respect  to  the 
petition  ?  What  law  had  been  passed  in  Pennsylvania  ?  5.  How 
did  the  Penn  family  represent  this  law  ?  6  Where  was  the  cause 
examined  ? 

11  * 


126  LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN. 

some  very  earnest  advocates,  while  those  were  not 
wanting  ready  to  espouse  the  side  of  the  people. 
After  some  time  spent  in  debate,  a  proposal  was 
made  that  Franklin  should  solemnly  engage  that  the 
tax  should  be  so  made,  that  the  proprietary  estates 
should  pay  no  more  than  a  fair  proportion.  This 
he  agreed  to  perform,  and  the  Penn  family  withdrew 
their  opposition  to  the  passage  of  the  law. 

7.  After  this  business  was  thus  happily  concluded, 
Franklin  remained  at  the  court  of  Great  Britain,  as 
agent  for  the  province  of  Pennsylvania.     The  ex 
tensive  knowledge  which  he  possessed  of  the  situa 
tion  of  the  colonies,  and  the  regard  which  he  had 
always  shown  for  their  interests,  occasioned  his  ap 
pointment  to  the  same  office  by  the  colonies  of  Mas 
sachusetts,  Maryland  and  Georgia.      His  conduct 
in  this  situation  increased  the  reputation  and  esteem 
in  which  he  was  held  among  his  countrymen. 

8.  Franklin  was  now  in  the  midst  of  those  friends 
whom  he  had  acquired  by  his  fame  as  a  philosopher. 
He  was  very  much  sought  after  by  them.     Honors 
from  learned  societies  and  colleges  were  continually 
heaped  upon  him.     The  university  of  St.  Andrew's, 
in  Scotland,  conferred  on  him  the  degree  of  doctor 
of  laws.     Its  example  was  followed  by  the  univer 
sities  of  Edinburgh  and  Oxford.     His  correspond 
ence  was  sought  by  the  most  distinguished  philoso 
phers  of  Europe. 

How  was  it  settled  ?  7.  In  what  capacity  did  Franklin  remain 
in  London  after  the  conclusion  of  this  business  ?  8.  How  was 
Franklin  received  ?  What  honors  were  conferred  upon  him  ? 


LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN.  127 

9.  Although  Franklin  was  now  principally  occu 
pied  with  political  pursuits,  he  found  time  for  his 
favorite  studies.      He  extended  his  researches  in 
electricity,  and  in  other  interesting  subjects  of  nat 
ural  philosophy. 

10.  The  tone  produced  by  rubbing  the  brim  of  a 
drinking-glass  with  a  wet  finger  is  familiar  to  every 
one.     An  Irish  gentleman,  by  the  name  of  Pucker- 
idge,  by  placing  on  a  table  a  number  of  glasses  of 
different  sizes,  and  tuning  them  by  partly  filling 
them  with  water,  endeavored  to  form  an  instrument 
upon  which  he  could  play  tunes.     He  died  before 
he  had  completed  his  invention.     Some  improve 
ments  were  afterwards  made  upon  his  plan.     The 
sweetness  of  the  tones  induced  Franklin  to  try  a 
number  of  experiments,  and  he  at  length  formed  the 
instrument  which  he  has  called  the  Armonica 

11.  In  the  summer  of  1762  he  returned  to  Amer 
ica.     He  received  the  thanks  of  the  assembly  of 
Pennsylvania,  "  as  well  for  the  faithful  discharge  of 
his  duty  to  that  province  in  particular,  as  for  the 
many  and  important  services  done  to  America  in 
general,  during  his  residence   in  Great   Britain." 
A  compensation  of  five  thousand  pounds,  Pennsyl 
vania  currency,  was  decreed  him  for  his  services 
during  six  years. 

9.  How  was  Franklin  chiefly  occupied  at  this  time  ?  10.  What 
was  the  musical  instrument  which  Franklin  formed  ?  11.  When 
did  he  return  to  America  ?  How  was  he  received  by  the  assem 
bly  1  What  compensation  did  they  allow  him  ? 


128  LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN. 

2.  During  his  absence,  Franklin  had  been  an 
nually  elected  member  of  the  assembly.  On  his 
return  to  Philadelphia,  he  again  took  his  seat  in  that 
body,  and  continued  steadily  to  protect  the  rights 
and  interests  of  the  people. 

13.  In  December,  1762,  great  alarm  was  excited 
in   the   province   by   the    following   circumstance. 
Several  Indians  resided  in  the  county  of  Lancaster, 
who  had  always  conducted  themselves  as  friends  to 
the  white  men.     A  number  of  inhabitants  upon  the 
frontiers,  who  had  been  irritated  by  repeated  inju 
ries,  determined  to  seek  revenge  on  all  the  Indians 
who  fell  in  their  way. 

14.  About  a  hundred  and  twenty  persons  assem 
bled,  and  proceeded  on  horseback  to  the  settlements 
of  the  defenceless  Indians.     These  were  now  re 
duced   in   number   to   about  twenty.      They   had 
received  information  of  the  intended  attack,  but  did 
not  believe  it.     As  the  white  people   had  always 
been  their  friends,  they  feared  no  danger  from  them. 
When  the  party  arrived  at  the  Indian  settlement, 
they  found  only  some  women  and  children  and  a 
few  old  men.     The  rest  were  absent  at  work.     The 
wretches  murdered  all  whom  they  found,  and  among 
others  the  chief  Shahehas,  who  had  been  always 
distinguished  for  his  friendship  to  the  whites. 

15.  The  remainder  of  these  unfortunate  Indians, 
who,  by  their  absence,  had  escaped  the  massacre, 

13.  What  alarm  was  excited  in  the  province  in  1762  7     14.  Re- 
Uue  the  substance  of  this  paragraph. 


LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN.  129 

were  conducted  to  Lancaster,  and  lodged  in  the  jail 
as  a  place  of  security.  Large  rewards  were  offered 
by  the  governor  for  the  discovery  of  the  murderers. 
But  notwithstanding  this,  a  party  of  the  same  men 
marched  to  Lancaster,  broke  open  the  jail,  and  in 
humanly  butchered  the  innocent  Indians  who  had 
been  placed  there  for  protection. 

16.  Another  proclamation  was  issued  by  the 
governor,  but  in  vain.  A  party  even  marched 
down  to  Philadelphia,  for  the  purpose  of  murdering 
some  friendly  Indians,  who  had  been  removed  to 
the  city  for  safety.  The  citizens  armed  to  protect 
them.  The  Quakers,  notwithstanding  they  are 
opposed  to  righting  even  in  their  own  defence,  were 
most  active  upon  the  occasion.  The  rioters  ad 
vanced  to  Germantown,  and  the  governor  fled  for 
safety  to  the  house  of  Dr.  Franklin.  It  was  by  his 
assistance  and  influence  that  the  disturbance  was 
quelled,  and  the  rioters  prevailed  upon  to  return  to 
their  homes. 

15.  What  became  of  the  remaining  Indians  1  16.  Was  the 
governor's  proclamation  of  any  effect  1  How  were  the  rioters 
persuaded  to  return  home  1 

F2 


130  LIFE  UF  FRANKLIN 


CHAPTER  XV. 

Franklin  reappointed  Jlgent  at  the  Court  of  Great 
Britain.  Visits  Germany  and  France.  Returns  to 
Philadelphia.  Appointed  Delegate  to  Congress.  In 
terview  with  Lord  Howe.  Sent  as  Ambassador  to 
France.  Asks  to  be  recalled.  Chosen  President  of 
the  Supreme  Council  of  Philadelphia.  Death.  Char 
acter. 

1.  THE  disputes  between  the  proprietaries  and 
the  assembly,  which  had  for  a  long  time  subsided, 
again  revived.     At  the  election  for  a  new  assembly 
in  1764,  the  friends  of  the  proprietaries  made  great 
exertions  to  keep  out  all  those  of  the  opposite  party. 
They  obtained  a  small  majority  in  the  city  of  Phila 
delphia,  and  Franklin  lost  the  seat  which  he  had 
now  held  for  fourteen  years. 

2.  On  the  meeting  of  the  assembly,  it  appeared 
that  there  was  still  a  majority  of  Franklin's  friends. 
He  was  again  appointed  agent  of  the  provinces  at 
the  court  of  Great  Britain.     His  enemies  were  sadly 
vexed  at  this  appointment,  and  made  a  solemn  pro 
test  against  \t,  which  they  wished  to  have  entered 
upon  the  journals.     This,  however,  was  refused, 
and  it  was  consequently  published  in  the  newspa 
pers.     It  drew  from  him  a  spirited  reply. 

1.  How  did  Franklin  lose  his  seat  in  the  assembly  T    2.  What 
appointment  did  he  immediately  receive  ? 


LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN.  131 

3.  The  opposition  to  his  reappointment  seems  to 
have  greatly  affected  his  feelings,  as  it  came  from 
men  with  whom  he  had  long  been  connected,  both 
in  public  and  private  life.     In  his  last  publication, 
he  took  a  pathetic  leave  of  Pennsylvania.     "  I  am 
now,"  he  says,  "  to  take  leave^  (perhaps  a  last  leave) 
of  the  country  I  love,  and  in  which  I  have  spent  the 
greatest  part  of  my  life.     Esto  perpetua  /*     I  wish 
every  kind  of  prosperity  to  my  friends,  and  I  forgive 
my  enemies." 

4.  During  his  residence  in  England,  he  consulted, 
with  unremitting   industry,  the   best  interests  of 
his  native  country.     He  was  every  where  received 
with  respect,  on   account  of  his  reputation  as  a 
writer  and  philosopher.     In  1766  he  made  a  visit  to 
Holland  and  Germany,  and  received  the  greatest 
marks  of  attention  from  men  of  science.     In  the 
following  year  he  travelled  into  France,  where  he 
was  received  with  much  kindness  and  favor.     He 
became  acquainted  with  a  number  of  literary  men, 
and  was  introduced  to  the  king,  Louis  XV. 

5.  Difficulties    had    now    commenced    between 
Great  Britain  and  her  provinces  in  America.    Frank 
lin  was  unwearied  in  his  efforts  to  bring  about  a 
reconciliation.     He  had  frequent   interviews   with 

J».  How  did  the  opposition  to  his  reappointment  affect  him  ?  4. 
What  was  his  reception  in  England  ?  What  countries  did  he 
visit  in  1766  ?  In  1767  ?  5.  What  were  Franklin's  efforts  to  bring 
about  a  reconciliation  between  Great  Britain  and  the  provinces  ? 


*  May  it  exist  for  ever ! 


132  LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN. 

Lord  Howe  and  Lord  Chatham,  and  other  distin 
guished  English  statesmen,  who  entertained  for  him 
the  highest  respect  and  esteem.  Most  of  the  time 
during  his  present  residence  in  England  was  occu 
pied  in  these  vain  efforts.  The  violent  conduct  of 
the  parent  state  drove  the  colonies  to  war,  and 
Franklin  returned  to  America  in  the  year  1775. 

6.  The  day  after  his  return  he  was  elected,  by  the 
legislature  of  Pennsylvania,  a  delegate  to  congress. 
Not  long  after  his  election,  a  committee  was  ap 
pointed,  consisting  of  Mr.  Lynch,  Mr.  Harrison  and 
himself,  to  visit  the  camp  at  Cambridge.'    They 
here  united  their  efforts  with  those  of  the  commander 
in  chief,  to  convince  the  soldiers  of  the  necessity  of 
remaining  in  the  field,  and  persevering  in  the  cause 
of  their  country. 

7.  When  Lord  Howe  came  to  America  in  1776, 
with  powers  to  effect  an  accommodation  with  the 
colonists,  a  correspondence  on  the  subject  took  place 
between  him  and   Dr.   Franklin.     John   Adams, 
Edward  Rutledge  and  Dr.  Franklin  were  afterwards 
appointed  to  wait  upon  Lord  Howe,  and  learn  the 
extent  of  his  powers.     These  were  found  to  be  con 
fined  to  the  liberty  of  granting  pardons,  on  sub 
mission.     The  Americans,  at  that  time,  would  not 
thank  the  king  for  a  thousand  pardons,  and  the 


6.  What  appointment  did  he  receive  on  his  return  ?  What 
committee  was  chosen  to  visit  the  camp  at  Cambridge  ?  7.  Witn 
what  powers  was  Lord  Howe  invested  ?  Who  were  appointed 
to  wait  on  him  ? 


LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN.  133 

interview  terminated  without  effecting  any  thing 
towards  a  reconciliation. 

8.  Dr.  Franklin  was  an  earnest  advocate  for  the 
entire  separation  of  the  colonies  from  Great  Britain, 
and  his  writings  upon  the  subject  had  great  influ 
ence  on  the  public  mind.     In  1776,  he  was  presi 
dent  of  a  convention,  which  assembled  for  the  pur 
pose  of  establishing  a  new  form  of  government  for 
the  state  of  Pennsylvania.     In  the  latter  part  of  this 
year,  he  was  appointed  to  assist  Mr.  Silas  Deane  in 
managing  the  affairs  of  the  colonies  at  the  court  of 
France. 

9.  No  one  could  have  rendered  more  service  to 
the  United  States,  in  this  situation,  than  Dr.  Frank 
lin.     His  character  was  much  honored  in  France, 
and  as  a  philosopher  he  was  held  in  very  high 
esteem.     He  was  received  with  respect  by  all  the 
celebrated  literary  men  of  the  day ;  and  this  respect 
naturally  extended  itself  to  all  classes.     His  political 
negotiations  were  of  the  greatest  importance  to  his 
native  country. 

10.  When  the  independence  of  the  United  States 
was  acknowledged  by  Great  Britain,  Franklin  be 
came  desirous  of  returning  home.     The  infirmities 
of  age  and  disease  had  fallen  upon  him,  and  the 
situation  of  his  country  rendered  his  services  no 
longer   indispensably   necessary.      He    applied   to 

8.  Of  what  convention  was  Franklin  the  president  in  1776  ?  To 
what  office  was  he  appointed  ?  9.  How  was  he  esteemed  in 
France  1  How  were  his  political  negotiations  ? 

12 


134  LIFE  OF  FRANKLIN. 

congress  to  be  recalled,  and  Mr.  Jefferson  was  ap 
pointed  to  succeed  him  in  1785.  In  September  of 
the  same  year,  Franklin  arrived  in  Philadelphia. 
He  was  shortly  after  chosen  a  member  of  the  su 
preme  council  for  the  city,  and  was  soon  elected 
president  of  the  same  body. 

11.  For  the  next  three  years  Franklin  still  de 
voted  himself  to  public  business,  and  to  his  political 
and  philosophical  studies.     He  retained  his  desire 
of  being  useful  to  the  last  of  his  life.     In  1788,  his 
increasing  infirmities  compelled  him  to  retire  from 
public  office.     His  complaints  continued,  and  he 
suffered  very  severely  from  his  sickness.     He  still, 
however,  remained  good-natured  and  cheerful,  was 
perfectly  resigned  to  his  situation,  acknowledging 
the  justice  and  kindness  of  that  Being  who  had  seen 
fit  that  he  should  be  thus  afllicted. 

12.  On  the  17th  of  April,  1790,  about  eleven 
o'clock  at  night,  Dr.  Franklin  quietly  expired.     He 
had  reached  an  honored  and  a  happy  old  age.    From 
small  beginnings,  by  a  uniform  course  of  prudence 
and  honesty,  he  had  raised  himself  to  high  station, 
wealth  and  distinction. 

13.  In  considering  the  character  of  Franklin,  we 
perceive  that  the  most  marked  trait  was  his  habit 
of  economy.     By  economy  we  do  not  mean  merely 

10.  When  did  Franklin  return  to  Philadelphia  ?  What  honor 
was  immediately  conferred  on  him  ?  11.  When  did  he  retire  from 
public  office  ?  On  what  account  ?  12.  When  did  Dr.  Franklin 
die  ?  13.  What  was  the  marked  trait  in  Fraukliu's  character  t 
14.  What  other  traits  were  conspicuous  ' 


LIFE  OF  FRAJfKLDI.  ]  \'t 

care  in  gaining  and  keeping  of  his  money.  We 
mean  care  of  time,  of  labor;  frugality, 
•jsirm.  method  in  all  his  hnsmenk  To  this  we 
add  economy  of  his  heahj) ;  avoiding  all  excess  and 
unnecessary  exposure. 

14.  His  cheerfulness  and  good  natare  were  also 
remarkable.  He  was  erer  happy  and  entertaining. 
His  anecdotes  and  jests  were  always  to  the  point, 
and  his  manner  of  con rersing  and  •lilini,  was  at 
once  pleasing  and  enecdre. 

1"    Fnr  VIM  rwiMu*  WCT~w*,fHK  )IM  r^vnrfrv  nvmikiBi  lw 

respect  and  gratitude;  white  his  phifceophical  discov 
eries  hare  excited  the  admiiatioa  of  to  His 
name  wiflUre  iiith  the  names  of  the  few  great  men 
who  have  conferred  endnrmg  benefits  on  mankind. 
The  ioDowmg  epitaph  on  himself  was  wzjtlen  by 
him  many  years  pferioos  to  his  death: 

---.--.  '-.-,--- 
of 


[Eke  tie  eater  rf «  «U  WA, 

-,-  •--  --     :    --      -•-'  -r  1:  :  J  --  '  I '_ 

lies  hoe  food  for  vonw; 

j«t  ne  w«k  itodf  dbafl  aat  W  Wt, 

farhwill(»hai.ilirri)«H^r  i     n 


-:• 
A 


ESSAYS    OF    DR.   FRANKLIN 


We  are  acquainted  with  no  writer  who  inculcates  lessons 
of  practical  wisdom  in  a  more  agreeable  and  popular 
manner  than  Dr.  Franklin.  His  writings  abound  with 
infinite  good  sense,  and  a  singular  shrewdness,  not  at  all 
inconsistent  with  the  highest  integrity  and  purity.  We 
have  selected  a  few  of  his  lighter  essays  as  a  sequel  to 
the  Biography;  desirable,  both  as  displaying  somewhat 
of  the  character  of  their  author,  and  conveying  common 
Bensffmaxims  likely  to  be  of  much  service  to  the  young. 


A  True  Story— Written  to  his  Nephew. 

WHEN  I  was  a  child,  at  seven  years  old,  my 
friends,  on  a  holyday,  filled  my  pockets  with  cop 
pers.  I  went  directly  to  a  shop  where  they  sold 
toys  for  children;  and  being  charmed  with  the 
sound  of  a  whistle,  that  I  met  by  the  way  in  the 
hands  of  another  boy,  I  voluntarily  offered  him  all 
rny  money  for  one.  I  then  came  home,  and  went 
whistling  all  over  the  house,  much  pleased  with  my 


FRANKLIN'S  WORKS.  137 

whistle,  but  disturbing  all  the  family.  My  broth 
ers,  and  sisters,  and  cousins,  understanding  the 
bargain  I  had  made,  told  me  I  had  given  four  times 
as  much  for  it  as  it  was  worth.  This  put  me  in 
mind  what  good  things  I  might  have  bought  with 
the  rest  of  the  money ;  and  they  laughed  at  me  so 
much  for  my  folly,  that  I  cried  with  vexation ;  and 
the  reflection  gave  me  more  chagrin  than  the  whis 
tle  gave  me  pleasure. 

This,  however,  was  afterwards  of  use  to  me,  the 
impression  continuing  on  my  mind ;  so  that  often, 
when  I  was  tempted  to  buy  some  unnecessary 
*hing,  I  said  to  myself,  Don't  give  too  much  for 
the  whistle ;  and  so  I  saved  my  money. 

A.S  I  grew  up,  came  into  the  world,  and  observed 
the  actions  of  men,  I  thought  I  met  with  many, 
very  many,  who  gave  too  much  for  their  wfatle. 

When  I  saw  any  one  too  ambitious  of  court  fa 
vor,  sacrificing  his  time  in  attendance  on  levees, 
his  repose,  his  liberty,  his  virtue,  and  perhaps  his 
friends,  to  attain  it,  I  have  said  to  myself,  This  man 
gives  too  much  for  his  whistle. 

When  I  saw  another  fond  of  popularity,  constant 
ly  employing  himself  in  political  bustles,  neglecting 
his  own  affairs,  and  ruining  them  by  that  neglect, 
He  pays,  indeed,  says  I,  too  much  for  his  whistle. 

If  I  knew  a  miser,  who  gave  up  every  kind  of 

comfortable  living,  all  the  pleasure  of  doing  good  to 

others,  all  the  esteem  of  his  fellow  citizens,  and  the 

joys  of  benevolent  friendship,  for  the  sake  of  accu- 

12* 


138  FRANKLIN'S  WORKS. 

mulatmg  wealth,  Poor  man,  says  I,  you  do  indeed 
pay  too  much  for  your  whistle. 

When  I  meet  a  man  of  pleasure,  sacrificing 
every  laudable  improvement  of  the  mind,  or  of  his 
fortune,  to  mere  corporeal  sensations,  Mistaken 
man,  says  I,  you  are  providing  pain  for  yourself 
instead  of  pleasure  ;  you  give  too  much  for  your 
whistle. 

If  I  see  one  fond  of  fine  clothes,  fine  furniture, 
fine  equipages,  all  above  his  fortune,  for  which  lie 
contracts  debts,  and  ends  his  career  in  prison, 
Alas,  says  I,  he  has  paid  dear,  very  dear,  for  his 
whistle. 

When  I  see  a  beautiful,  sweet-tempered  girl, 
married  to  an  ill-natured  brute  of  a  husband,  What 
a  pity  it  is,  says  I,  that  she  has  paid  so  much  for 


In  short,  I  conceived  that  great  part  of  the  mise 
ries  of  mankind  were  brought  upon  them  by  the 
false  estimates  they  had  made  of  the  value  of  things, 
and  by  their  giving  too  much  for  their  whistles. 


HANDSOME  AND  DEFORMED  LEG. 

THERE  are  two  sorts  of  people  in  the  world,  who, 
with  equal  degrees  of  health  and  wealth,  and  the 


FRANKLIN'S  WORKS.  139 

other  comforts  of  life,  become,  the  one  happy,  and 
the  other  miserable  This  arises  very  much  from 
the  different  views  in  which  they  consider  things, 
persons,  and  events ;  and  the  effect  of  those  differ 
ent  views  upon  their  own  minds. 

In  whatever  situation  men  can  be  placed,  they 
may  find  conveniences  and  inconveniences :  in 
whatever  company,  they  may  find  persons  and  con 
versation  more  or  less  pleasing  :  at  whatever  table, 
they  may  meet  with  meats  and  drinks  of  better  and 
worse  taste,  dishes  better  and  worse  dressed :  in 
whatever  climate,  they  will  find  good  and  bad 
weather :  under  whatever  government,  they  may 
find  good  and  bad  laws,  and  good  and  bad  adminis 
tration  of  those  laws :  in  whatever  poem,  or  work 
of  genius,  they  may  see  faults  and  beauties :  in 
almost  every  face,  and  every  person,  they  may  dis 
cover  fine  features  and  defects,  good  and  bad  qual 
ities. 

Under  these  circumstances,  the  two  sorts  of  peo 
ple  above  mentioned  fix  their  attention  ;  those  who 
are  disposed  to  be  happy,  on  the  conveniences  of 
things,  the  pleasant  parts  of  conversation,  the  well- 
dressed  dishes,  the  goodness  of  the  wines,  the  fine 
weather,  &c.,  and  enjoy  all  with  cheerfulness. 
Those  who  are  to  be  unhappy,  think  and  speak 
only  of  the  contrarieties.  Hence  they  are  contin 
ually  discontented  themselves,  and,  by  their  remarks, 
sour  the  pleasures  of  society ;  offend  personally 
many  people,  and  make  themselves  every  where 


140  FRANKLIN'S  WORKS. 

disagreeable.  If  this  turn  of  mind  was  founded 
in  nature,  such  unhappy  persons  would  be  the 
more  to  be  pitied.  But  as  the  disposition  to 
criticise,  and  to  be  disgusted,  is,  perhaps,  taken 
up  originally  by  imitation,  and  is,  unawares,  grown 
into  a  habit,  which,  though  at  present  strong,  may, 
nevertheless,  be  cured,  when  those  who  have  it 
are  convinced  of  its  bad  eifect  on  their  felicity ;  I 
hope  this  little  admonition  may  be  of  service  to 
them,  and  put  them  on  changing  a  habit  which, 
though  in  the  exercise  it  is  chiefly  an  act  of  imagi 
nation,  yet  has  serious  consequences  in  life,  as  it 
brings  on  real  griefs  and  misfortunes.  For,  as 
many  are  offended  by,  and  nobody  loves,  this  sort 
of  people,  no  one  shows  them  more  than  the  most 
common  civility  and  respect,  and  scarcely  that ; 
and  this  frequently  puts  them  out  of  humor,  and 
draws  them  into  disputes  and  contentions.  If  they 
aim  at  obtaining  some  advantage  in  rank  or  for 
tune,  nobody  wishes  them  success,  or  will  stir  a  step 
or  speak  a  wovd  to  favor  their  pretensions.  If  they 
incur  public  censure  or  disgrace,  no  one  will  de 
fend  or  excuse,  and  many  join  to  aggravate  their 
misconduct,  and  render  them  completely  odious 
.  f  these  people  will  not  change  this  bad  habit,  ana 
condescend  to  be  pleased  with  what  is  pleasing, 
without  fretting  themselves  or  others  about  the  con 
trarieties,  it  is  good  for  others  to  avoid  an  acquaint 
ance  with  them,  which  is  always  disagreeable,  and 


FRANKLIN'S  WORKS. 

sometimes  very  inconvenient,  especially  when  one 
finds  one's  self  entangled  in  their  quarrels. 

An  old  philosophical  friend  of  mine  was  grown, 
from  experience,  very  cautious  in  this  particular, 
and  carefully  avoided  any  intimacy  with  such 
people.  He  had,  like  other  philosophers,  a  ther 
mometer  to  show  him  the  heat  of  the  weather ;  and 
a  barometer  to  mark  when  it  was  likely  to  prove 
good  or  bad ;  but  there  being  no  instrument  invent 
ed  to  discover,  at  first  sight,  this  unpleasing  dis 
position  in  a  person,  he,  for  that  purpose,  made  use 
of  his  legs ;  one  of  which  was  remarkably  hand 
some;  the  other,  by  some  accident,  crooked  and 
deformed.  If  a  stranger,  at  first  interview,  regard 
ed  his  ugly  leg  more  than  his  handsome  one,  he 
doubted  him.  If  he  spoke  of  it,  and  took  no  notice 
of  the  handsome  leg,  that  was  sufficient  to  deter 
mine  my  philosopher  to  have  no  further  acquaint 
ance  with  him.  Every  body  has  not  this  two- 
legged  instrument;  but  every  one,  with  a  little 
attention,  may  observe  signs  of  that  carping,  fault 
finding  disposition,  and  take  the  same  resolution  of 
avoiding  the  acquaintance  of  those  infected  with  it 
I  therefore  advise  those  critical,  querulous,  dis 
contented,  unhappy  people,  if  they  wish  to  be  re 
spected  and  beloved  by  others,  and  happy  in  them 
selves,  they  should  leave  off  looking  at  the  ugly  leg. 


142  FRANKLIN'S  WORKS. 

ADVICE  TO  A  YOUNG   TRADESMAN. 

Written  Anno  1748. 
TO  MY  FRIEND,  A.  B. 

As  you  have  desired  it  of  me,  I  write  the  following 
hints,  which  have  been  of  service  to  me,  and  may, 
if  observed,  be  so  to  you. 

REMEMBER  that  time  is  money.  He  that  can 
earn  ten  shillings  a  day  by  his  labor,  and  goes 
abroad,  or  sits  idle  one  half  of  that  day,  though  he 
spends  but  six  pence  during  his  diversion  or  idle 
ness,  ought  not  to  reckon  that  the  only  expense ; 
he  has  really  spent,  or  rather  thrown  away,  five 
shillings  besides. 

Remember  that  credit  is  money.  If  a  man  lets 
his  money  lie  in  my  hands  after  it  is  due,  he  gives 
me  the  interest,  or  so  much  as  I  can  make  of  it 
during  that  time.  This  amounts  to  a  considerable 
sum  where  a  man  has  good  and  large  credit,  and 
makes  good  use  of  it. 

Remember  that  money  is  of  a  prolific,  generating 
nature.  Money  can  beget  money,  and  its  offspring 
can  beget  more,  and  so  on.  Five  shillings  turned 
is  six  ;  turned  again  is  seven  and  three  pence ;  and 
BO  on  till  it  becomes  a  hundred  pounds.  The 
more  there  is  of  it,  the  more  it  produces  every 


FRANKLIN'S  WORKS.  143 

turning,  so  that  the  profits  rise  quicker  and  quicker. 
He  that  kills  a  breeding  sow,  destroys  all  her 
offspring  to  the  thousandth  generation.  He  that 
murders  a  crown,  destroys  all  that  it  might  have 
produced,  even  scores  of  pounds. 

Remember  that  six  pounds  a  year  is  but  a  groat 
a  day.  For  this  little  sum  (which  may  be  daily 
wasted  either  in  time  or  expense,  unperceived),  a 
man  of  credit  may,  on  his  own  security,  have  the 
constant  possession  and  use  of  a  hundred  pounds. 
So  much  in  stock,  briskly  turned  by  an  industrious 
man,  produces  great  advantage. 

Remember  this  saying,  "  The  good  paymaster 
is  lord  of  another  man's  purse."  He  that  is  known 
to  pay  punctually  and  exactly  to  the  time  he 
promises,  may  at  any  time,  and  on  any  occasion, 
raise  all  the  money  his  friends  can  spare.  This 
is  sometimes  of  great  use.  After  industry  and 
frugality,  nothing  contributes  more  to  the  raising 
of  a  young  man  in  the  world,  than  punctuality  and 
justice  in  all  his  dealings  :  therefore  never  keep 
borrowed  money  an  hour  beyond  the  time  you 
promised,  lest  a  disappointment  shut  up  your 
friend's  purse  for  ever. 

The  most  trifling  actions  that  affect  a  man's 
credit  are  to  be  regarded.  The  sound  of  your 
hammer  at  five  in  the  morning,  or  nine  at  night, 
heard  by  a  creditor,  makes  him  easy  six  months 
longer ;  but  if  he  sees  you  at  a  billiard-table,  or 
hears  your  voice  at  a  tavern,  when  you  should  be 


144  FRANKLLVS  WORKS. 

at  work,  he  sends  for    his   money  the  next  day  ; 
demands  it  before  he  can  receive  it  in  a  lump. 

It  shows,  besides,  that  you  are  mindful  of  what 
you  owe ;  it  makes  you  appear  a  careful  as  well 
as  an  honest  man,  and  that  still  increases  your 
credit. 

Beware  of  thinking  all  your  own  that  you  pos 
sess,  and  of  living  accordingly.  It  is  a  mistake 
that  many  people  who  have  credit  fall  into.  To 
prevent  this,  keep  an  exact  account,  for  some  time, 
both  of  your  expenses  and  your  income.  If  you 
take  the  pains  at  first  to  mention  particulars,  it 
will  have  this  good  effect ;  you  will  discover  how 
wonderfully  small,  trifling  expenses  mount  up 
to  large  sums,  and  will  discern  what  might  have 
been,  and  may  for  the  future  be  saved,  without 
occasioning  any  great  inconvenience. 

In  short,  the  way  to  wealth,  if  you  desire  it,  is 
as  plain  as  the  way  to  market.  It  depends  chiefly 
on  two  words,  industry  and  frugality;  that  is, 
waste  neither  time  nor  money,  but  make  the  best 
use  of  both.  Without  industry  and  frugality  noth 
ing  will  do,  and  with  them  every  thing.  He  that 
gets  all  he  can  honestly,  and  saves  all  he  gets 
(necessary  expenses  excepted),  will  certainly  be 
come  rich — if  that  Being,  who  governs  the  world, 
to  whom  all  should  look  for  a  blessing  on  their 
honest  endeavors,  doth  not,  in  his  wise  providence, 
otherwise  determine. 

AN  OLD   TRADESMAN. 


FRANKLIN'S  WORKS.  145 


NECESSARY  HINTS  TO    THOSE  THAT 
WOULD  BE  RICH// 

Written  Anno  1786. 

THE  use  of  money  is  all  the  advantage  there  13 
in  having  money. 

For  six  pounds  a  year  you  may  have  the  use  of 
one  hundred  pounds,  provided  you  are  a  man  of 
known  prudence  and  honesty. 

He  that  spends  a  groat  a  day  idly,  spends  idly 
above  six  pounds  a  yea/,  which  is  the  price  for  the 
use  of  one  hundred  pounds. 

He  that  wastes  idly  a  groat's  worth  of  his  time 
per  day,  one  day  with  another,  wastes  the  privilege 
of  using  one  hundred  pounds  each  year. 

He  that  idly  loses  five  shillings  worth  of  time, 
loses  five  shillings,  and  might  as  prudently  throw 
five  shillings  into  the  sea. 

He  that  loses  five  shillings,  not  only  loses  that 
sum,  but  all  the  advantages  that  might  be  made  by 
turning  it  in  dealing ;  which,  by  the  time  that  a 
young  man  becomes  old,  will  amount  to  a  con 
siderable  sum  of  money. 

Again ;  he  that  sells  upon  credit,  asks  a  price  for 
what  he  sells  equivalent  to  the  principal  and  inter 
est  of  his  money  for  the  time  he  is  to  be  kept  out  of 
it ;  therefore,  he  that  buys  upon  credk,  pays  inter 
est  for  what  he  buys;  and  he  that  pays  ready 
13  G 


146  FRANKLIN'S  WORKS. 

money,  might  let  that  money  out  to  use ;  so  that 
he  that  possesses  any  thing  he  has  bought,  pays 
interest  for  the  use  of  it. 

Yet,  in  buying  goods,  it  is  best  to  pay  ready 
money,  because,  he  that  sells  upon  credit,  expects 
to  lose  five  per  cent,  by  bad  debts ;  therefore  he 
charges,  on  all  he  sells  upon  credit,  an  advance 
that  shall  make  up  that  deficiency. 

Those  who  pay  for  what  they  buy  upon  credit, 
pay  their  share  of  this  advance. 

He  that  pays  ready  money,  escapes,  or  may 
escape,  that  charge. 

A  penny  saved  is  twopence  clear ; 
A  pin  a  day's  a  groat  a  year. 


PAPER. 

A  POEM. 

SOME  wits  of  old, — such  wits  of  old  there  were, — 
Whose  hints  showed  meaning,  whose  allusions  care, 
By  one  brave  stroke  to  mark  all  human  kind, 
Called  clear  blank  paper  every  infant  mind ; 
When  still,  as  opening  sense  her  dictates  wrote, 
Fair  Virtue  put  a  seal,  or  Vice  a  blot. 


FRANKLIN'S  WORKS.  147 

The  thought  was  happy,  pertinent  and  true  ; 
Methinks  a  genius  might  the  plan  pursue. 
I  (can  you  pardon  my  presumption  ?)  I — 
No  wit,  no  genius,  yet  for  once  will  try. 

Various  the  papers  various  wants  produce, 
The  wants  of  fashion,  elegance  and  use. 
Men  are  as  various ;  and  if  right  I  scan, 
Each  sort  of  paper  represents  some  man. 

Pray  note  the  fop — half  powder  and  half  lace — 
Nice  as  a  band-box  were  his  dwelling-place  : 
He's  the  gilt-paper,  which  apart  you  store, 
And  lock  from  vulgar  hands  in  the  'scrutoire 

Mechanics,  servants,  farmers,  and  so  forth, 
Are  copy-paper,  of  inferior  worth ; 
Less  prized,  more  useful,  for  your  desk  decreed. 
Free  to  all  pens,  and  prompt  at  every  need. 

The  wretch  whom  av'rice  bids  to  pinch  and  spare, 
Starve,  cheat,  and  pilfer,  to  enrich  an  heir, 
Is  coarse  brown-paper ;  such  as  pedlers  choose 
To  wrap  up  wares,  which  better  men  will  use. 

Take  next  the  miser's  contrast,  who  destroys 
Health,  fame,  and  fortune,  in  a  round  of  joys. 
Will  any  paper  match  him  1     Yes,  throughout 
He's  a  true  sinking-paper,  past  all  doubt. 


148  FRANKLIN'S  WORKS. 

The  retail  politician's  anxious  thought 
Deems  this  side  always  right,  and  that  stark  naught  ; 
He  foams  with  censure ;  with  applause  he  raves — 
A  dupe  to  rumors,  and  a  tool  of  knaves ; 
He'll  want  no  type  his  weakness  to  proclaim, 
While  such  a  thing  as  fools-cap  has  a  name. 

The  hasty  gentleman,  whose  blood  runs  high, 
Who  picks  a  quarrel  if  you  step  awry, 
Who  can't  a  jest,  or  hint,  or  look,  endure : 
What's  he  1     What  ? .    Touch-paper, — to  be  sure. 

What  are  our  poets,  take  them  as  they  fall, 
Good,  bad,  rich,  poor,  much  read,  not  read  at/all  ? 
Them  and  their  works  in  the  same  class  you'll  find 
They  are  the  mere  waste-paper  of  mankind. 

Observe  the  maiden,  innocently  sweet ; 
She's  fair  white-paper,  an  unsullied  sheet; 
On  which  the  happy  man,  whom  Fate  ordains, 
May  write  his  name,  and  take  her  for  his  pains. 

One  instance  more,  and  only  one  I'll  bring; 
'Tis  the  great  man  who  scorns  a  little  thing, 
Whose  thoughts,  whose  deeds,  whose  maxims  are 

his  own, 

Formed  on  the  feelings  of  his  heart  alone  : 
True,  genuine  royal-paper  is  his  breast, 
Of  all  the  kinds  most  precious,  purest,  best. 


FRANKLIN'S  WORKS.  149 


ON  THE  ART  OF  SWIMMING. 

In  Answer  to  some  Inquiries  of  M.  Dubourg*  on  the 
Subject. 

I  AM  apprehensive  that  I  shall  not  be  able  to  find 
leisure  for  making  all  the  disquisitions  and  exper 
iments  which  would  be  desirable  on  this  subject. 
I  must,  therefore,  content  myself  with  a  few 
remarks. 

The  specific  gravity  of  some  human  bodies,  in 
comparison  to  that  of  water,  has  been  examined  by 
M.  Robinson,  in  our  Philosophical  Transactions, 
volume  50,  page  30,  for  the  year  1757.  He  asserts, 
that  fat  persons,  with  small  bones,  float  most  easily 
upon  water. 

The  diving  bell  is  accurately  described  in  our 
Transactions. 

When  I  was  a  boy,  I  made  two  oval  pallets,  each 
about  ten  inches  long,  and  six  broad,  with  a  hole 
for  the  thumb,  in  order  to  retain  it  fast  in  the  palm 
of  my  hand.  They  much  resembled  a  painter's  pal 
lets.  In  swimming,  I  pushed  the  edges  of  these 
forward,  and  I  struck  the  water  with  their  flat  sur 
faces  as  I  drew  them  back :  I  remember  I  swam 
faster  by  means  of  these  pallets,  but  they  fatigued 
my  wrists.  I  also  fitted  to  the  soles  of  my  feet  a 

*  Translator  of  Dr.  Franklin's  works  into  French 

13* 


160  FRANKLTN'S  WORKS. 

kind  of  sandals  ;  but  I  was  not  satisfied  with  them, 
because  I  observed  that  the  stroke  is  partly  given 
by  the  inside  of  the  feet  and  the  ankles,  and  not 
entirely  with  the  soles  of  the  feet. 

We  have  here  waistcoats  for  swimming,  which 
are  made  of  double  sail  cloth,  with  small  pieces  of 
cork  quilted  in  between  them. 

I  know  by  experience,  that  it  is  a  great  comfort 
to  a  swimmer  who  has  a  considerable  distance  to 
go,  to  turn  himself  sometimes  on  his  back,  and  to 
vary  in  other  respects  the  means  of  procuring  a 
progressive  motion. 

When  he  is  seized  with  the  cramp  in  the  leg, 
the  method  of  driving  it  away  is  to  give  to  the  parts 
affected  a  sudden,  vigorous  and  violent  shock  ; 
which  he  may  do  in  the  air  as  he  swims  on  his 
back. 

During  the  great  heats  of  summer,  there  is  no  dan 
ger  in  bathing,  however  warm  we  may  be,  in  rivers 
which  have  been  thoroughly  warmed  by  the  sun. 
But  to  throw  one's  self  into  cold  spring  water,  when 
the  body  has  been  heated  by  exercise  in  the  sun, 
is  an  imprudence  which  may  prove  fatal.  I  once 
knew  an  instance  of  four  young  men,  who,  having 
worked  at  harvest  in  the  heat  of  the  day,  with  a 
view  of  refreshing  themselves,  plunged  into  a  spring 
of  cold  water ;  two  died  upon  the  spot,  a  third  the 
next  morning,  and  the  fourth  recovered  with  great 
difficulty.  A  copious  draught  of  cold  water,  in 


FRANKLIN'S  WORKS.  151 

similar  circumstances,  is  frequently  attended  with 
the  same  effect  in  North  America. 

The  exercise  of  swimming  is  one  of  the  most 
healthy  and  agreeable  in  the  world.  After  having 
swam  for  an  hour  or  two  in  the  evening,  one  sleeps 
coolly  the  whole  night,  even  during  the  most  ar 
dent  heat  of  summer.  Perhaps,  the  pores  being 
cleansed,  the  insensible  perspiration  increases,  and 
occasions  this  coolness.  It  is  certain,  that  much 
swimming  is  the  means  of  stopping  a  diarrhoea, 
and  even  of  producing  a  constipation.  With  re 
spect  to  those  who  do  not  know  how  to  swim,  or 
who  are  affected  with  a  diarrhoea  at  a  season  which 
does  not  permit  them  to  use  that  exercise,  a  warm 
bath,  by  cleansing  and  purifying  the  skin,  is  found 
very  salutary,  and  often  effects  a  radical  cure.  I 
speak  from  my  own  experience,  frequently  repeated, 
and  that  of  others,  to  whom  I  have  recommended 
this. 

You  will  not  be  displeased  if  I  conclude  these 
hasty  remarks  by  informing  you,  that  as  the  ordi 
nary  method  of  swimming  is  reduced  to  the  act  of 
rowing  with  the  arms  and  legs,  and  is,  consequently, 
a  laborious  and  fatiguing  operation  when  the  space 
of  water  to  be  crossed  is  considerable ;  there  is  a 
method  in  which  a  swimmer  may  pass  to  great  dis 
tances  with  much  facility,  by  means  of  a  sail. 
This  discovery  I  fortunately  made  by  accident,  and 
in  the  following  manner  : — 

When  I  was  a  boy,  I  amused  myself  one  day 


152  FRANKLIN'S  WORKS. 

with  flying  a  paper  kite  ;  and  approaching  the  back 
of  a  pond,  which  was  near  a  mile  broad,  I  tied  the 
string  to  a  stake,  and  the  kite  ascended  to  a  very 
considerable  height  above  the  pond,  while  I  was 
swimming.  In  a  little  time,  being  desirous  of 
amusing  myself  with  my  kite  and  enjoying  at  the 
same  time  the  pleasure  of  swimming,  I  returned, 
and  loosing  from  the  stake  the  string  with  the  little 
stick  which  was  fastened  to  it,  went  again  into 
the  water,  where  I  found,  that,  lying  on  my  back, 
and  holding  the  stick  in  my  hands,  I  was  drawn 
along  the  surface  of  the  water  in  a  very  agreeable 
manner.  Having  then  engaged  another  boy  to 
carry  my  clothes  round  the  pond,  to  a  place  which 
I  pointed  out  to  him,  on  the  other  side,  I  began  to 
cross  the  pond  with  my  kite,  which  carried  me 
quite  over  without  the  least  fatigue,  and  with  the 
greatest  pleasure  imaginable.  I  was  only  obliged 
occasionally  to  halt  a  little  in  my  course,  and  resist 
its  progress,  when  it  appeared  that,  by  following 
too  quick,  I  lowered  the  kite  too  much  ;  by  doing 
which  occasionally  I  made  it  rise  again.  I  have 
never  since  that  time  practised  this  singular  mode 
of  swimming,  though  I  think  it  not  impossible  to 
cross  in  this  manner  from  Dover  to  Calais.  The 
packet-boat,  however,  is  still  preferable. 


FRANKLIN'S  WORKS.  153 


PRELIMINARY  ADDRESS  TO  THE  PENN 
SYLVANIA  ALMANAC,  ENTITLED,  "POOR 
RICHARD'S  ALMANAC,  FOR  THE  YEAR 

1758." 

I  HAVE  heard,  that  nothing  gives  an  author  so 
great  pleasure  as  to  find  his  works  respectfully 
quoted  by  other  learned  authors.  This  pleasure  I 
have  seldom  enjoyed  ;  for  though  I  have  been,  if 
I  may  say  it  without  vanity,  an  eminent  author 
(of  almanacs)  annually,  now  a  full  quarter  of  a  cen 
tury,  my  brother  authors  in  the  same  way  (for  what 
reason  I  know  not)  have  ever  been  very  sparing  in 
their  applauses;  and  no  other  author  has  taken 
the  least  notice  of  me  ;  so  that,  did  not  my  writings 
produce  me  some  solid  pudding,  the  great  deficien 
cy  of  praise  would  have  quite  discouraged  me. 

I  concluded,  at  length,  that  the  people  were  the 
best  judges  of  my  merit,  for  they  buy  my  works ; 
and  besides,  in  my  rambles,  where  I  am  not  per 
sonally   known,  I   have  frequently  heard  one  or 
ther  of  my  adages  repeated,  with  "as  poor  Richard 
ays,"  at  the  end  on't.     This  gave  me  some  satis 
faction,  as  it  showed  not  only  that  my  instructions 
were  regarded,  but  discovered  likewise    some  re 
spect  for  my  authority ;  and  I  own,  that  to  encour 
age  the    practice    of  remembering  and  repeating 

G2 


154  FRANKLIN'S  WORKS. 

those  wise  sentences,  I  have  sometimes  quoted 
myself  with  great  gravity. 

Judge,  then,  how  much  1  have  been  gratified  by 
an  incident  which  I  am  going  to  relate  to  you.  I 
stopped  my  horse  lately  where  a  great  number  of 
people  were  collected  at  an  auction  of  merchants 
goods.  The  hour  of  sale  not  being  come,  they 
were  conversing  on  the  badness  of  the  times ;  and 
one  of  the  company  called  to  a  plain,  clean,  old 
man,  with  white  locks,  "  Pray,  father  Abraham, 
what  think  ye  of  the  times  1  Won't  these  heavy 
taxes  quite  ruin  the  country  1  How  shall  we  ever 
be  able  to  pay  them?  What  would  you  advise 
us  to  ?"  Father  Abraham  stood  up,  and  replied, — 
"  If  you  have  my  advice,  I'll  give  it  to  you  in  short ; 
'for  a  word  to  the  wise  is  enough  ;  and  many  words 
won't  fill  a  bushel,'  as  poor  Richard  says."  They 
joined  in  desiring  him  to  speak  his  mind;  and, 
gathering  round  him,  he  proceeded  as  follows : 

"  Friends  (says  he)  and  neighbors,  the  taxes  are 
indeed  very  heavy  ;  and  if  those  laid  on  by  the  gov 
ernment  were  the  only  ones  we  had  to  pay,  we 
might  more  easily  discharge  them :  but  we  have 
many  others,  and  much  more  grievous  to  some  of 
us.  We  are  taxed  twice  as  much  by  our  idleness, 
three  times  as  much  by  our  pride,  and  four  times 
as  much  by  our  folly :  and  from  these  taxes  the 
commissioners  cannot  ease  or  deliver  us,  by  allow 
ing  an  abatement.  However,  let  us  hearken  to 


FRANKLIN'S  WORKS.  155 

good  advice,  and  something  may  be  done  for  us ; 
'God  helps  them  that  help  themselves/  as  poor 
Richard  says  in  his  Almanac. 

"  It  would  be  thought  a  hard  government  that 
should  tax  its  people  one  tenth  part  of  their  time, 
to  be  employed  in  its  service ;  but  idleness  taxes 
many  of  us  much  more,  if  we  reckon  all  that  is 
spent  in  absolute  sloth,  or  doing  of  nothing,  with 
that  which  is  spent  in  idle  employments,  or 
amusements  that  amount  to  nothing.  Sloth,  by 
bringing  on  diseases,  absolutely  shortens  life. 
'  Sloth,  like  rust,  consumes  faster  than  labor  wears, 
while  the  key  often  used  is  always  bright/  as  poor 
Richard  says.  '  But  dost  thou  love  life  1  then  do 
not  squander  time,  for  that's  the  stuff  life  is  made 
of/  as  poor  Richard  says.  How  much  more  than 
is  necessary  do  we  spend  in  sleep !  forgetting  that 
'  the  sleeping  fox  catches  no  poultry,  and  that 
there  will  be  sleeping  enough  in  the  grave/  as  poor 
Richard  says.  '  If  time  be  of  all  things  the  most 
precious,  wasting  time  must  be  (as  poor  Richard 
says)  the  greatest  prodigality  /  since,  as  he  else 
where  tells  us,  'Lost  time  is  never  found  again; 
and  what  we  call  time  enough,  always  proves  little 
enough.'  Let  us  then  up  and  be  doing,  and  [doing 
to  the  purpose  :  so  by  diligence  shall  we  do  more 
with  less  perplexity.  '  Sloth  makes  all  things  dif 
ficult,  but  industry  all  easy/  as  poor  Richard  says  ; 
and  '  He  that  riseth  late  must  trot  all  day,  and  shall 
scarce  overtake  his  business  at  night ;  while  lazi- 


156  FRANKLIN'S  WORKS. 

ness  travels  so  slowly,  that  poverty  soon  overtakes 
him,'  as  we  read  in  poor  Richard ;  who  adds, 
'  Drive  thy  business,  let  not  that  drive  thee ;'  and, 

'  Early  to  bed,  and  early  to  rise, 
Makes  a  man  healthy,  wealthy,  and  wise.' 

"  So  what  signifies  wishing  and  hoping  for  bette 
times  1  We  make  these  times  better  if  we  bestir 
ourselves.  '  Industry  needs  not  wish/  as  poor  Rich 
ard  says ;  '  He  that  lives  upon  hope  will  die  fasting.' 
'  There  are*  noTgauiii  Wlllioul  pains  ;  tlien  help, 
hands,  for  I  have  no  lands  :  or  if  I  have,  they  are 
smartly  taxed ;'  and  (as  poor  Richard  likewise  ob 
serves)  *  He  that  hath  a  trade  hath  an  estate,  and 
he  that  hath  a  calling  hath  an  office  of  profit  and 
honor;'  but  then  the  trade  must  be  worked  at, 
and  the  calling  well  followed,  or  neither  the  estate 
nor  the  office  will  enable  us  to  pay  our  taxes.  If  we 
are  industrious,  we  shall  never  starve ;  for,  as  poor 
Richard  says, '  At  the  working-man's  tiouse  hunger 
looks  in,  but  ffarfis  not  pntnr.,'  Nor  will  the  bailiff 
or  the  constable  enter ;  for,  '  Industry  pays  debts, 
but  despair  increased!  them,'  says  poor  Richard. 
What  though  you  have  found  no  treasure,  nor  has 
any  rich  relation  left  you  a  legacy  ?  '  Diligence  is 
the  mother  of  good  luck,'  as  poor  Richard  says : 
amPXr'od  gives  all  things  to  industry  :  then  plough 
deep  while  sluggards  sleep,  and  you  will  have  corn 
to  sell  and  to  keep,'  says  poor  Dick.  Work  while  it 
is  called  to-day ;  for  you  know  not  how  much  you 


FRANKLIN'S  WORKS.  157 

may  be  hindered  to-morrow ;  which  makes  poor 
Richard  say,  '  One  to-day  is  worth  two  to-morrows ;' 
and,  further,  '  Have  you  somewhat  to  do  to-morrow, 
do  it  to-day.'  '  If  you  were  a  servant,  would  you 
not  be  ashamed  that  a  good  master  should  catch 
you  idle  ?  Are  you  then  your  own  master  ?  be 
ashamed  to  catch  yourself  idle,'  as  poor  Dick  says 
When  there  is  so  much  to  be  done  for  yourself, 
your  family,  and  your  gracious  king,  be  up  by  peep 
of  day  :  '  Let  not  the  sun  look  down,  and  say,  In 
glorious  here  he  lies !'  Handle  your  tools  without 
mittens  ;  remember,  that '  the  cat  in  gloves  catches 
no  mice,'  as  poor  Richard  says.  It  is  true,  there 
is  much  to  be  done,  and  perhaps  you  are  weak- 
handed  ;  but  stick  to  it  steadily,  and  you  will  see 
great  effects;  for  continual  dropping  wears  away 
stones,  and  by  diligence  and  patience  the  mouse 
ate  into  the  cable  ;  and  '  light  strokes  fell  great  oaks,' 
as  poor  Richard  says  in  his  Almanac,  the  year  I 
cannot  just  now  remember. 

"  Methinks  I  hear  some  of  you  say, '  Must  a  man 
afford  himself  no  leisure  ?'• — I  will  tell  thee,  my 
friend,  what  poor  Richard  says ;  '  Employ  thy  time 
well,  if  thou  meanest  to  gain  leisure;  and  since 
thou  art  not  sure  of  a  minute,  throw  not  away  an 
hour.'  Leisure  is  time  for  doing  something  useful ; 
this  leisure  the  diligent  man  will  obtain,  but  the 
lazy  man  never;  so  that,  as  poor  Richard  says, 
*  A  life  of  leisure  and  a  life  of  laziness  are  two 
things.'  Do  you  imagine  that  sloth  will  afford  you 
14 


158  FRANKLIN'S  WORKS. 

more  comfort  than  labor  1  No  ;  for,  as  poor  Rich 
ard  says,  '  Troubles  spring  from  idleness,  and 
grievous  toils  from  needless  ease  :  many  without 
labor  would  live  by  their  own  wits  only  ;  but  they 
break  for  want  of  stock.'  Whereas  industry  gives 
comfort,  and  plenty,  and  respect.  '  Fly  pleasures, 
and  they'll  follow  you  ;  the  diligent  spinner  has  a 
large  shift  ;  and  now  I  have  a  sheep  and  a  cow, 
every  body  bids  me  good-morrow  ;  '  all  which  is 
well  said  by  poor  Richard. 

"  But  with  our  industry,  we  must  likewise  be 
steady,  and  settled,  and  careful,  and  oversee  our 
own  affairs  with  our  own  eyes,  and  not  trust  too 
much  to  others  ;  for,  as  poor  Richard  says, 

'  I  never  saw  an  oft-removed  tree, 

Nor  yet  an  oft-removed  family, 

That  throve  so  well  as  one  that  settled  be.' 

"  And  again,  '  Three  removes  are  as  bad  as  a 
fire  :'  and  again,  '  Keep  thy  shop,  and  thy  shop  will 
keep  thee  :'  and  again,  '  I£jpu  would  have  your 
go;  if  not  .send.'  And  again, 


'  He  that  by  the  plough  would  thrive, 
Himself  must  either  hold  or  drive.' 


"  And  again,  '  The  eye  of  the  master  will  do 
more  work  than  both  his  hands  ;'  and  again,  '  Want 
of  care  does  us  more  damage  than  want  of  knowl 
edge  ;'  and  again,  '  Not  to  oversee  workmen  is  to 
your  purse  open.'  Trusl'mg^oo  much 


FRANKLIN'S  WORKS.  169 

to  others'  care  is  the  ruin  of  many ;  for,  as  the 
Almanac  says,  'In  the  affairs  of  the  world,  men 
are  saved  not  by  faith,  but  by  the  want  of  it ;  but  a 
man's  own  care  is  profitable ;  for,'  saith  poor  Dick, 
'  Learning  is  to  the  studious  and  riches  to  the  care 
ful,  as  well  as  power  to  the  bold,  and  heaven  to  the 
virtuous.'  And,  further,  '  If  you  would  have  a 
faithful  servant,  and  one  that  you  like,  serve 
yoursglf.'  And  again,  he  adviseth  to  circumspec 
tion  and  care,  even  in  the  smallest  matters,  because 
sometimes,  '  A  little  neglect  may  breed  great  mis 
chief;'  adding,  f  For  want  of  a  nail  the  shoe  was 
lost ;  for  want  of  a  shoe  the  horse  was  lost ;  and  for 
wa"nt  of  aliorse  the  rider  was  lost :'  being  overtaken 
and  slain  by  the  enemy,  all  for  want  of  care  about 
a  horse-shoe  nail. 

"  So  much  for  industry,  my  friends,  and  atten 
tion  to  one's  own  business ;  but  to  these  we  must 
add  frugality,  if  we  would  make  our  industry  more 
certainly  successful.  A  man  may,  if  he  knows  not 
how  to  save  as  he  gets,  '  keep. his  nose  all  his  life 
to  the  grindstone,  and  die  not  worth  a  groat  at  last.' 
'  A  fat  kitchen  makes  a  lean  will/  as  poor  Richard 
says;  and, 

'Many  estates  are  spent  in  the  getting; 

Since  women  for  tea  forsook  spinning  and  knitting, 

And  men  for  punch  forsook  hewing  and  splitting.' 

" '  If  you  would  be  wealthy  (says  he,  in  another 
Almanac),  think  of  saving,  as  well  as  of  getting: 


160  FRANKLIN'S  WORKS. 

the  Indies  have  not  made  Spain  rich,  because  her 
outgoes  are  greater  than  her  incomes.' 

"Away  then  with  your  expensive  follies,  and 
you  will  not  have  much  cause  to  complain  of  hard 
times,  heavy  taxes,  and  chargeable  families;  for, 
as  poor  Dick  says, 

'  Women  and  wine,  game  and  deceit, 
Make  the  wealth  small,  and  the  want  great. 

"  And,  further,  '  What  maintains  one  vice,  would 
bring  up  two  children.'  You  may  think,  perhaps, 
that  a  little  tea,  or  a  little  punch  now  and  then,  diet 
a  little  more  costly,  clothes  a  little  finer,  and  a  little 
entertainment  now  and  then,  can  be  no  great  mat 
ter  ;  but  remember  what  poor  Richard  says — '  Many 
a  little  makes  a  mickle  ;'  and  further,  *  Beware  of 
littk^expensns  :  a  sipalHnak  will  sink  a  great  ship  ;' 
and  again, '  Who  daintieslove  shall  beggars~prove ;' 
and  moreover,  '  Fools  make  feasts,  and  wise  men 
eat  them.' 

"  Here  you  are  all  got  together  at  this  sale  of 
fineries  and  nick-nacks.  You  call  them  goods; 
but  if  you  do  not  take  care,  they  will  prove  evils  to 
some  of  you.  You  expect  they  will  be  sold  cheap, 
and  perhaps  they  may  for  less  than  they  cost ;  but  if 
you  have  no  occasion  for  them,  they  must  be  dear 
to  you.  Remember  what  poor  Richard  says — '  Buy 
what  thou  hast  no  need  of,  and  ere  long  thou  shalt 
sell  thy  necessaries.'  And  again,  '  At  a  great  pen 
nyworth  pause  awhile.'  He  means,  that  perhaps 


FRANKLIN'S  WORKS.  161 

the  cheapness  is  apparent  only,  or  not  real ;  or  the 
bargain,  by  straitening  thee  in  thy  business,  may  do 
thee  more  harm  than  good.  For  in  another  place 
he  says,  '  Many  have  been  ruined  by  buying  good 
pennyworths.'  Again,  as  poor  Richard  says,  *  I 
is  foolish  to  lay  out  money  in  a  purchase  of  repent 
ance :'  and  yet  this  folly  is  practised  every  day  at 
auctions,  for  want  of  minding  the  Almanac.  '  Wise 
men  (as  poor  Dick  says)  learn  by  others'  harms, 
fools  scarcely  by  their  own ;  but  Felix  quern  faciunt 
aliena  pcricula  cautum.'  Many  a  one,  for  the  sake  of 
finery  on  the  back,  have  gone  with  a  hungry  belly, 
and  half  starved  their  families :  '  Silk  and  satins, 
scarlet  and  velvets  (as  poor  Richard  says),  pu^out 
the  kitchen^fire..'  These  are  not  the  necessaries 
of  life ;  they  can  scarcely  be  called  the  conveni 
ences  ;  and  yet  only  because  they  look  pretty,  how 
many  want  to  have  them !  The  artificial  wants  of 
mankind  thus  become  more  numerous  than  the 
natural ;  and  as  poor  Dick  says,  '  For  one  poor  per 
son  there  are  a  hundred  indigent.'  By  these  and 
other  extravagances  the  genteel  are  reduced  to 
poverty,  and  forced  to  borrow  of  those  whom  they 
formerly  despised,  but  who,  through  industry  and 
frugality,  have  maintained  their  standing ;  in  which 
case  it  appears  plainly,  '  A  ploughman  on  his  legs 
is  higher  than  a  gentleman  on  his  knees,'  as  poor 
Richard  says.  Perhaps  they  have  had  a  small  es 
tate  left  them,  which  they  knew  not  the  getting  of; 
they  think  '  It  is  day,  and  will  never  be  night ; 
14* 


162  FRANKLIN'S  WORKS. 

that  a  little  to  be  spent  out  of  so  much,  is  not  worth 
minding.'  '  A  child  and  a  fool  (as  poor  Richard 
says)  imagine  twenty  shillings  and  twenty  years  can 
never  be  spent ;  but  always  be  taking  out  of  the 
meal-tub,  and  never  putting  in,  soon  comes  to  the 
bottom  :'  then,  as  poor  Dick  says,  '  When  the  well  is 
dry,  they  know  the  worth  of  water.'  But  this  they 
might  have  known  before,  if  they  had  taken  his 
advice  :  *  if  you  would  know  the  value  j)f  money. 
go  jmd  try  to  borrow  some ;  for  he  that  goes  jj.  bor- 
ro\yjng  goes  ajsojrro  wirier ;  and,  indeed,  so  does  he 
that  lends  to  such  people,  when  he  goes  to  get  it  in 
again.'  Poor  Dick  further  advises,  and  says, 

'  Fond  pride  of  dress  is  sure  a  very  curse  : 
Ere  fancy  you  consult,  consult  your  purse.' 

And  again,  '  Pride  is  as  loud  a  beggar  as  Want, 
and  a  great  deal  more  saucy/  When  you  have 
bought  one  fine  thing,  you  must  buy  ten  more,  that 
your  appearance  may  be  all  of  a  piece ;  but  poor 
Dick  says,  '  It  is  easier  to  suppress  the  first  desire, 
than  to  satisfy  all  that  follow  it.'  And  it  is  as 
truly  folly  for  the  poor  to  ape  the  rich,  as  the  frog 
to  swell  in  order  to  equal  the  ox. 

'  Vessels  large  may  venture  more, 
But  little  boats  should  keep  near  shore. 

Tis,  however,  a  folly  soon  punished ;  for  '  Pride 
that  dines  on  vanity,  sups  on  contempt,'  as  poor 
Richard  says.  And  in  another  place, '  Pride  break- 


FRANKLIN'S  WORKS.  163 

fasted  with  Plenty,  dined  with  Poverty,  and  supped 
with  Infamy.'  And,  after  all,  of  what  use  is  this 
pride  of  appearance,  for  which  so  much  is  risked, 
so  much  is  suffered  1  It  cannot  promote  health,  or 
ease  pain;  it  makes  no  increase  of  merit  in  the 
person ;  it  hastens  misfortune. 

What  is  a  butterfly  ?  At  best, 
He's  but  a  caterpillar  drest ; 
The  gaudy  fop's  his  picture  just, 

as  poor  Richard  says. 

"  But  what  madness  must  it  be  to  run  in  debt 
for  these  superfluities!  We  are  offered,  by  the 
terms  of  this  sale,  six  months'  credit,  and  that  per 
haps  has  induced  some  of  us  to  attend  it,  because 
we  cannot  spare  the  ready  money,  and  hope  now  to 
be  fine  without  it.  But,  ah !  think  what  you  do 
when  you  run  in  debt.  You  give  to  another  power 
over  your  liberty.  If  you  cannot  pay  at  the  time, 
you  will  be  ashamed  to  see  your  creditor :  you  will 
be  in  fear  when  you  speak  to  him ;  you  will  make 
poor,  pitiful,  sneaking  excuses,  and  by  degrees 
come  to  lose  your  veracity,  and  sink  into  base, 
downright  lying ;  for,  as  poor  Richard  says,  '  The 
second  vice  is  lying ;  the  first  is  running  in  debt.' 
And  again,  to  the  same  purpose,  '  Lying  rides  upon 
debt's  back;'  whereas  a  free-born  Englishman 
ought  not  to  be  ashamed  nor  afraid  to  speak  to  any 
man  living. — But  poverty  often  deprives  a  man  of 
all  spirit  and  virtue :  '  It  is  hard  for  an  empty  bag 


164  FRANKLIN'S  WORKS. 

to  stand  upright,'  as  poor  Richard  truly  says. 
What  would  you  think  of  that  prince,  or  that  gov 
ernment,  who  would  issue  an  edict,  forbidding  you 
to  dress  like  a  gentleman  or  gentlewoman,  on  pain 
of  imprisonment  or  servitude  ?  Would  you  not  say, 
that  you  were  free,  have  a  right  to  dress  as  you 
please,  and  that  such  an  edict  would  be  a  breach 
of  your  privileges,  and  such  a  government  tyranni 
cal  ?  And  yet  you  are  about  to  put  yourself  under 
that  tyranny  when  you  run  in  debt  for  such  dress ! 
Your  creditor  has  authority,  at  his  pleasure,  to  de 
prive  you  of  your  liberty,  by  confining  you  in  jail 
for  life,  or  by  selling  you  for  a  servant,  if  you  should 
not  be  able  to  pay  him.  When  you  have  got  your 
bargain,  you  may,  perhaps,  think  little  of  payment; 
but  '  Creditors  (poor  Richard  tells  us)  have  better 
memories  than  debtors;'  and  in  another  place  he 
says,  '  Creditors  are  a  superstitious  sect,  great  ob 
servers  of  set  days  and  times.'  The  day  comes 
round  before  you  are  aware,  and  the  demand  is  made 
before  you  are  prepared  to  satisfy  it ;  or,  if  you 
bear  your  debt  in  mind,  the  term  which  at  first 
seemed  so  long,  will,  as  it  lessens,  appear  extremely 
short.  Time  will  seem  to  have  added  wings  to  his 
heels  as  well  as  at  his  shoulders.  '  Those  have  a 
short  Lent  (saith  poor  Richard)  who  owe  money  to 
be  paid  at  Easter.'  Then  since,  as  he  says,  '  The 
borrower  is  a  slave  to  the  lender,  and  the  debtor  to 
the  creditor,'  disdain  the  chain,  preserve  your  free 
dom,  and  maintain  your  independency :  be  indus- 


FRANKLIN'S  WORKS.  165 

trious  and  free;  be  frugal  and  free.  At  present, 
perhaps,  you  may  think  yourselves  in  thriving  cir 
cumstances,  and  that  you  can  bear  a  little  extrava 
gance  without  injury ;  but 

'  For  age  and  want  save  while  you  may, 
No  morning  sun  lasts  a  whole  day/ 

as  poor  Richard  says.  Gain  may  be  temporary  and 
uncertain ;  but  ever,  while  you  live,  expense  is  con 
stant  and  certain :  and  '  It  is  easier  to  build  two 
chimneys,  than  to  keep  one  in  fuel,'  as  poor  Rich 
ard  says.  So  'Rather  go  to  bed  supperless  than 
rise  in  debt/ 

'  Get  what  you  can,  and  what  you  get  hold, 

;Tis  the  stone  that  will  turn  all  your  lead  into  gold/ 

as  poor  Richard  says.  And  when  you  have  got 
the  philosopher's  stone,  sure  you  will  no  longer 
complain  of  bad  times,  or  the  difficulty  of  paying 
taxes. 

"  This  doctrine,  my  friends,  is  reason  and  wisdom ; 
but,  after  all,  do  not  depend  too  much  upon  your 
own  industry,  and  frugality,  and  prudence,  though 
excellent  things ;  for  they  may  be  blasted,  without 
the  blessing  of  Heaven :  and  therefore  ask  that 
blessing  humbly,  and  be  not  uncharitable  to  those 
that  at  present  seem  to  want  it,  but  comfort  and 
help  them.  Remember  Job  suffered,  and  was  after 
wards  prosperous. 

"And  now,  to  conclude,  'Experience  keeps  a 


166  FRANKLIN'S  WORKS. 

dear  school ;  but  fools  will  learn  in  no  other,  and 
scarce  in  that ;  for  it  is  true,  we  may  give  advice, 
but  we  cannot  give  conduct,'  as  poor  Richard  says. 
However,  remember  this,  'They  that  will  not  be 
counseled  cannot  be  helped,'  as  poor  Richard 
says ;  and  further,  that '  If  you  will  not  hear  Rea 
son,  she  will  surely  rap  your  knuckles.' " 

Thus  the  old  gentleman  ended  his  harangue. 
The  people  heard  it,  and  approved  the  doctrine,  and 
immediately  practised  the  contrary,  just  as  if  it  had 
been  a  common  sermon;  for  the  auction  opened, 
and  they  began  to  buy  extravagantly,  notwithstand 
ing  all  his  cautions,  and  their  own  fear  of  taxes.  I 
found  the  good  man  had  thoroughly  studied  my  Al 
manacs,  and  digested  all  I  had  dropped  on  those 
topics,  during  the  course  of  twenty-five  years.  The 
frequent  mention  he  made  of  me,  must  have  tired 
every  one  else ;  but  my  vanity  was  wonderfully  de 
lighted  with  it,  though  I  was  conscious  that  not  a 
tenth  part  of  the  wisdom  was  my  own,  which  he  as 
cribed  to  me,  but  rather  the  gleanings  that  I  had 
made  of  the  sense  of  all  ages  and  nations.  How 
ever,  I  resolved  to  be  the  better  for  the  echo  of  it ; 
and  though  I  had  at  first  determined  to  buy  stuff 
for  a  new  coat,  I  went  away,  resolved  to  wear  my 
old  one  a  little  longer.  Reader,  if  thou  wilt  do  the 
same,  thy  profit  will  be  as  great  as  mine. 

I  am,  as  ever,  thine  to  serve  thee, 

RICHARD  SAUNDERS. 


FRANKLIN'S  WORKS.  167 


OBSERVATIONS  ON  WAR. 

BY  the  original  laws  of  nations,  war  and  extirpa 
tion  were  the  punishment  of  injury.  Humanizing 
by  degrees,  it  admitted  slavery  instead  of  death;  a 
further  step  was  the  exchange  of  prisoners  instead 
of  slavery ;  another,  to  respect  more  the  property 
of  private  persons  under  conquest,  and  be  content 
with  acquired  dominion.  Why  should  not  this  law 
of  nations  go  on  improving?  Ages  have  inter 
vened  between  its  several  steps ;  but  as  knowledge 
of  late  increases  rapidly,  why  should  not  those  steps 
be  quickened  ?  Why  should  it  not  be  agreed  to, 
as  the  future  law  of  nations,  that  in  any  war  here 
after,  the  following  description  of  men  should  be 
undisturbed,  have  the  protection  of  both  sides, 
and  be  permitted  to  follow  their  employments  in  se 
curity  ?  viz. 

1.  Cultivators  of  the  earth,  because  they  labor 
for  the  subsistence  of  mankind. 

2.  Fishermen,  for  the  same  reason. 

3.  Merchants  and  traders  in  unarmed  ships,  who 
accommodate  different  nations  by  communicating 
and  exchanging  the  necessaries  and  conveniences 
of  life. 

4.  Artists  and  mechanics,  inhabiting  and  work 
ing  in  open  towns. 

It  is  hardly  necessary  to  add  that  the  hospitals  of 


168  FRANKLIN'S  WORKS. 

enemies  should  be  unmolested ;  they  ought  to  be 
assisted.  It  is  for  the  interest  of  humanity  in  gen 
eral,  that  the  occasions  of  war,  and  the  induce 
ments  to  it,  should  be  diminished.  If  rapine  be 
abolished,  one  of  the  encouragements  to  war  is 
taken  away ;  and  peace,  therefore,  more  likely  to 
continue  and  be  lasting. 

The  practice  of  robbing  merchants  on  the  high 
seas — a  remnant  of  the  ancient  piracy — though  it 
may  be  accidentally  beneficial  to  particular  persons, 
is  far  from  being  profitable  to  all  engaged  in  it,  or  to 
the  nation  that  authorizes  it.  In  the  beginning  of  a 
war,  some  rich  ships  are  surprised  and  taken.  This 
encourages  the  first  adventurers  to  fit  out  more 
armed  vessels ;  and  many  others  to  do  the  same. 
But  the  enemy  at  the  same  time  become  more  care 
ful,  arm  their  merchant  ships  better,  and  render 
them  not  so  easy  to  be  taken  ;  they  go  also  more 
under  the  protection  of  convoys.  Thus,  while  the 
privateers  to  take  them  are  multiplied,  the  vessels 
subjected  to  be  taken  and  the  chances  of  profit 
are  diminished;  so  that  many  cruises  are  made 
wherein  the  expenses  overgo  the  gains ;  and,  as  is 
the  case  in  other  lotteries,  though  particulars  have 
got  prizes,  the  mass  of  adventurers  are  losers,  the 
whole  expense  of  fitting  out  all  the  privateers  dur 
ing  a  war  being  much  greater  than  the  whole 
amount  of  goods  taken. 

Then  there  is  the  national  loss  of  all  the  labor  of 
so  many  men  during  the  time  they  have  been  em 


FRANKLIN'S  WORKS.  169 

ployed  in  robbing ;  who,  besides,  spend  what  they 
get  in  riot,  drunkenness,  and  debauchery;  lose 
their  habits  of  industry ;  are  rarely  fit  for  any  sober 
business  after  a  peace,  and  serve  only  to  increase 
the  number  of  highwaymen  and  house-breakers. 
Even  the  undertakers  who  have  been  fortunate  are, 
by  sudden  wealth,  led  into  expensive  living,  the 
habit  of  which  continues  when  the  means  of  sup 
porting  it  cease,  and  finally  ruins  them;  a  just 
punishment  for  their  having  wantonly  and  unfeel 
ingly  ruined  many  honest,  innocent  traders  and 
their  families,  whose  substance  was  employed  in 
serving  the  common  interests  of  mankind. 


THE  WAY  TO    MAKE  MONEY  PLENTY  IN 
EVERY  MAN'S   POCKET. 

AT  this  time,  when  the  general  complaint  is  that 
— "  money  is  scarce,"  it  will  be  an  act  of  kindness 
to  inform  the  moneyless  how  they  may  reinforce 
their  pockets.  I  will  acquaint  them  with  the  true 
secret  of  money-catching,  the  certain  way  to  fill 
empty  purses,  and  how  to  keep  them  always  full. 
Two  simple  rules,  well  observed,  will  do  the  busi 
ness. 

First,  Let  honesty  and  industry  be  thy  constant 
companions;  and, 

15  H 


170  FRANKLIN'S  WORKS. 

Secondly,  Spend  one  penny  less  than  thy  clear 
gains. 

Then  shall  thy  hide-bound  pocket  soon  begin  to 
thrive,  and  will  never  again  cry  with  the  empty' 
belly-ache ;  neither  will  creditors  insult  thee,  nor 
want  oppress,  nor  hunger  bite,  nor  nakedness  freeze 
thee.  The  whole  hemisphere  will  shine  brighter, 
and  pleasure  springupin_gvery  corner  oj^thy  heart. 

•re,  embrace  these  rules  and  be 
Banish  the  bleak  winds  of  sorrow  from  thy  mind, 
and  live  independent.  Then  shalt  thou  be  a  man, 
and  not  hide  thy  face  at  the  approach  of  the  rich, 
nor  suffer  the  pain  of  feeling  little  when  the  sons  of 
fortune  walk  at  thy  right  hand  I  for  independency, 
whether  with  little  or  much,  is*  good  fortune,  and 
placeth  thee  on  even  ground  with  the  proudest  of 
the  golden  fleece.  Oh,  then,  be  wise,  and  let  indus 
try  walk  with  thee  in  the  morning,  and  attend  thee 
until  thou  readiest  the  evening  hour  for  rest.  Let 
honesty  be  as  the  breath  of  thy  soul,  and  never  for 
get  to  have  a  penny,  when  all  thy  expenses  are 
enumerated  and  paid;  then  shalt  thou  reach  the 
point  of  happiness,  and  independence  shall  be  thy 
shield  and  buckler,  thy  helmet  and  crown;  then 
shall  thy  soul  walk  upright,  nor  stoop  to  the  silken 
wretch  because  he  hath  riches,  nor  pocket  an  abuse 
because  the  hand  which  offers  it  wears  a  ring  set 
with  diamonds. 


FRANKLIN'S  WORKS.  171 


MORALS  OF  CHESS. 

PLAYING  at  chess  is  the  most  ancient  and  univer 
sal  game  known  among  men ;  for  its  original  is  be 
yond  the  memory  of  history,  and  it  has,  for  num 
berless  ages,  been  the  amusement  of  all  the  civil 
ized  nations  of  Asia — the  Persians,  the  Indians, 
and  the  Chinese.  Europe  has  had  it  above  a  thou 
sand  years ;  the  Spaniards  have  spread  it  over  their 
parts  of  America,  and  it  begins  to  make  its  appear 
ance  in  these  States.  It  is  so  interesting  in  itself 
as  not  to  need  the  view  of  gain  to  induce  engaging 
in  it;  and  thence  it  is  never  played  for  money. 
Those,  therefore,  who  have  leisure  for  such  diver 
sions,  cannot  find  one  that  is  more  innocent ;  and 
the  following  piece,  written  with  a  view  to  correct 
(among  a  few  young  friends)  some  little  improprie 
ties  in  the  practice  of  it,  shows,  at  the  same  time, 
that  it  may,  in  its  effects  on  the  mind,  be  not  merely 
innocent,  but  advantageous,  to  the  vanquished  as 
well  as  the  victor. 

The  game  of  chess  is  not  merely  an  idle  amuse 
ment.  Several  very  valuable  qualities  of  the  mind, 
useful  in  the  course  of  human  life,  are  to  be  ac 
quired  or  strengthened  by  it,  so  as  to  become  habits 
ready  on  all  occasions.  For  life  is  a  kind  of  chess, 
in  which  we  have  points  to  gain,  and  competitors 
or  adversaries  to  contend  with,  and  in  which  there 


172  FRANKLIN'S  WORKS. 

is  a  vast  variety  of  good  and  ill  events,  that  are,  in 
some  degree,  the  effects  of  prudence  or  the  want  of 
it.  By  playing  at  chess,  then,  we  learn, 

I.  Porcsight,  which  looks  a  little  into  futurity, 
considers  the  consequences  that  may  attend  an  ac 
tion  :  for  it  is  continually  occurring  to  the  player, 
"  If  I   move  this  piece,  what  will  be  the  advan 
tage  of  my  new  situation  ?     What  use  can  my  ad 
versary   make  of  it  to   annoy  me  ?     What  other 
moves  can  I  make  to  support  it,  and  to  defend  my 
self  from  his  attacks  1" 

II.  Circumspection,    which   surveys    the   whole 
chessboard,  or  scene  of  action,  the  relations  of  .the 
several  pieces  and  situation,  the  dangers  they  are 
respectively  exposed  to,  the  several  possibilities  of 
their  aiding  each  other,  the  probabilities  that  the 
adversary  may  take  this  or  that  move,  and  attack 
this  or  the  other  piece,  and  what  different  means 
can  be  used  to  avoid  his  stroke,  or  turn  its  conse 
quences  against  him. 

III.  Caution,  not  to  make  your  moves  too  hasti 
ly.     This    habit    is   best  acquired    by  observing 
strictly  the  laws  of  the  game,  such  as,  "  If  you  touch 
a  piece,  you  must  move  it  somewhere ;  if  you  set  it 
down,  you  must  let  it  stand  :"  and  it  is  therefore  best 
that  these  rules  should  be  observed ;  as  the  game 
thereby  becomes  more  the  image  of  human  life,  and 
particularly  of  war :  in  which,  if  you  have  incau 
tiously  put  yourself  into  a  bad  and  dangerous  posi 
tion,  you  cannot  obtain  your  enemy's  leave  to  with- 


FRANKLIN'S  WORKS.  173 

draw  your  troops,  and  place  them  more  securely, 
but  you  must  abide  all  the  consequences  of  your 
rashness. 

And,  lastly,  we  learn  by  chess  the  habit  of  not 
being  discouraged  by  present  bad  appearances  in 
the  state  of  our  affairs,  the  habit  of  hoping  for  a 
favorable  change,  and  that  of  persevering  in  the 
search  of  resources.  The  game  is  so  full  of  events, 
there  is  such  a  variety  of  turns  in  it,  the  fortune  of 
it  is  so  subject  to  sudden  vicissitudes,  and  one  so 
frequently,  after  long  contemplation,  discovers  the 
means  of  extricating  one's  self  from  a  supposed  in 
surmountable  difficulty,  that  one  is  encouraged  to 
continue  the  contest  to  the  last,  in  hope  of  victory 
by  our  own  skill,  or  at  least  of  giving  a  stale  mate, 
by  the  negligence  of  our  adversary.  And  whoever 
considers,  what  in  chess  he  often  sees  instances  of, — 
that  particular  pieces  of  success  are  apt  to  produce 
presumption,  and  its  consequent  inattention,  by 
which  the  loss  may  be  recovered, — will  learn  not  to 
be  too  much  discouraged  by  the  present  success  of 
his  adversary,  nor  to  despair  of  final  good  fortune, 
upon  every  little  check  he  receives  in  the  pursuit 
of  it. 

That  we  may,  therefore,  be  induced  more  fre 
quently  to  choose  this  beneficial  amusement,  in 
preference  to  others,  which  are  not  attended  with 
the  same  advantages,  every  circumstance  which 
may  increase  the  pleasure  of  it  should  be  regarded ; 
and  every  action  or  word  that  is  unfair,  disrespect- 
15* 


174  FRANKLIN'S  WORKS. 

fill,  or  that  in  any  way  may  give  uneasiness,  should 
be  avoided,  as  contrary  to  the  immediate  intention 
of  both  the  players,  which  is  to  pass  the  time  agree 
ably. 

Therefore,  first,  If  it  is  agreed  to  play  according 
to  the  strictest  rules,  then  those  rules  are  to  be  ex 
actly  observed  by  both  parties,  and  should  not  be 
insisted  on  for  one  side,  while  deviated  from  by  the 
other — for  this  is  not  equitable. 

Secondly,  If  it  is  agreed  not  to  observe  the  rules 
exactly,  but  one  party  demands  indulgences,  he 
should,  then,  be  as  willing  to  allow  them  to  the 
other. 

Thirdly,  No  false  move  should  ever  be  made  to 
extricate  yourself  out  of  a  difficulty,  or  to  gain  an 
advantage.  There  can  be  no  pleasure  in  playing 
with  a  person  once  detected  in  such  unfair  prac 
tices. 

Fourthly,  If  your  adversary  is  long  in  playing, 
you  ought  not  to  hurry  him,  or  to  express  any  un 
easiness  at  his  delay.  You  should  not  sing,  nor 
whistle,  nor  look  at  your  watch,  nor  take  up  a  book 
to  read,  nor  make  a  tapping  with  your  feet  on  the 
floor,  or  with  your  fingers  on  the  table,  nor  do  any 
thing  that  may  disturb  his  attention.  For  all  these 
things  displease ;  and  they  do  not  show  your  skill 
in  playing,  but  your  craftiness  or  your  rudeness. 

Fifthly,  You  ought  not  to  endeavor  to  amuse  and 
deceive  your  adversary,  by  pretending  to  have  made 
bad  moves,  and  saying  that  you  have  now  lost  the 


FRANKLLN'S  WORKS.  175 

game,  in  order  to  make  him  secure  and  careless, 
and  inattentive  to  your  schemes ;  for  this  is  fraud 
and  deceit,  not  skill  in  the  game. 

Sixthly,  You  must  not,  when  you  have  gained  a 
victory,  use  any  triumphing  or  insulting  expression, 
nor  show  too  much  pleasure ;  but  endeavor  to  con 
sole  your  adversary,  and  make  him  less  dissatisfied 
with  himself,  by  every  kind  of  civil  expression  that 
may  be  used  with  truth ;  such  as,  "  You  understand 
the  game  better  then  I,  but  you  are  a  little  inatten 
tive  ;"  or,  "  You  play  too  fast;"  or,  "  You  had  the 
best  of  the  game,  but  something  happened  to  divert 
your  thoughts,  and  that  turned  it  in  mv  favor." 

Seventhly,  If  you  are  a  spectator  while  others 
play,  observe  the  most  perfect  silence.  For  if  you 
give  advice,  you  offend  both  parties;  him  against 
whom  you  give  it,  because  it  may  cause  the  loss  of 
his  game;  and  him  in  whose  favor  you  gave  it, 
because,  though  it  be  good,  and  he  follows  it,  he 
loses  the  pleasure  he  might  have  had,  if  you  had 
permitted  him  to  think  until  it  had  occurred  to  him 
self.  Even  after  a  move,  or  moves,  you  must  not, 
by  replacing  the  pieces,  show  how  it  might  have 
been  placed  better;  for  that  displeases,  and  may 
occasion  disputes  and  doubts  about  their  true  situa 
tion.  All  talking  to  the  players  lessens  or  diverts 
their  attention,  and  is  therefore  unpleasing.  Nor 
should  you  give  the  least  hint  to  either  party,  by 
any  kind  of  noise  or  motion.  If  you  do,  you  are 
unworthy  to  be  a  spectator.  If  you  have  a  mind  to 


176  FRANKLIN'S  WORKS. 

exercise  or  show  your  judgment,  do  it  in  playing 
your  own  game,  when  you  have  an  opportunity, 
not  in  criticising,  or  meddling  with,  or  counseling 
the  play  of  others. 

Lastly,  If  the  game  is  not  to  be  played  rigorously, 
according  to  the  rules  above-mentioned,  then  moder 
ate  your  desire  of  victory  over  your  adversary,  and 
be  pleased  with  one  over  yourself.  Snatch  not 
eagerly  at  every  advantage  offered  by  his  unskilful- 
ness  or  inattention ;  but  point  out  to  him  kindly, 
that  by  such  a  move  he  places  or  leaves  a  piece  in 
danger  and  unsupported  ;  that  by  another  he  will 
put  his  king  in  a  perilous  situation,  &c.  By  this 
generous  civility  (so  opposite  to  the  unfairness 
above  forbidden),  you  may,  indeed,  happen  to  lose 
the  game  to  your  own  opponent,  but  you  will  win 
what  is  better,  his  esteem,  his  respect,  and  his  affec 
tion  ;  together  with  the  silent  approbation  and  good 
will  of  impartial  spectators. 


FRANKLIN'S  WORKS.  177 


CONVERSATION  OF  A  COMPANY  OF 
EPHEMERAE ; 

WITH   THE    SOLILOQUY    OF    ONE    ADVANCED    IN   AGE. 
TO  MADAME  BRILLIANT. 

You  may  remember,  my  dear  friend,  that  when 
we  lately  spent  that  happy  day,  in  the  delightful 
garden  and  sweet  society  of  the  Moulin  Joly,  I 
stopped  a  little  in  one  of  our  walks,  and  staid  some 
time  behind  the  company.  We  had  been  shown 
numberless  skeletons  of  a  kind  of  little  fly,  called 
an  ephemera,  whose  successive  generations,  we 
were  told,  were  bred  and  expired  within  the  day. 
I  happened  to  see  a  living  company  of  them  on  a 
leaf,  who  appeared  to  be  engaged  in  conversation. 
You  know  I  understand  all  the  inferior  animal 
tongues ;  my  too  great  application  to  the  study  of 
them  is  the  best  excuse  I  can  give  for  the  little  prog 
ress  I  have  made  in  your  charming  language.  I 
listened  through  curiosity  to  the  discourse  of  these 
little  creatures;  but  as  they,  in  their  national  vivaci 
ty,  spoke  three  or  four  together,  I  could  make  but 
little  of  their  conversation.  I  found,  however,  by 
some  broken  expressions  that  I  heard  now  and 
then,  they  were  disputing  warmly  on  the  merit  of 

H2 


178  FRANKLIN'S  WORKS. 

two  foreign  musicians,  one  a  cousin,  the  other  a 
moschcto :  in  which  dispute  they  spent  their  time, 
seeming  as  regardless  of  the  shortness  of  their  life  as 
if  they  had  been  sure  of  living  a  month.  Happy 
people,  thought  I ;  you  live  certainly  under  a  wise, 
just,  and  mild  government,  since  you  have  no  pub 
lic  grievances  to  complain  of,  nor  any  other  subject 
of  contention  but  the  perfections  or  imperfections 
of  foreign  music.  I  turned  my  head  from  them  to 
an  old  gray-headed  one,  who  was  single  on  another 
leaf,  and  talking  to  himself.  Being  amused  with 
his  soliloquy,  I  put  it  down  in  writing,  in  hopes  it 
will  likewise  amuse  her  to  whom  I  am  so  much  in 
debted  for  the  most  pleasing  of  all  amusements,  her 
delicious  company  and  heavenly  harmony. 

"  It  was,"  says  he,  "  the  opinion  of  learned  philos 
ophers  of  our  race,  who  lived  and  flourished  long 
before  my  time,  that  this  vast  world,  the  Moulin 
July,  could  not  itself  subsist  more  than  eighteen 
hours :  and  I  think  there  was  some  foundation  for 
that  opinion ;  since,  by  the  apparent  motion  of  the 
great  luminary,  that  gives  life  to  all  nature,  and 
which  in  my  time  has  evidently  declined  consider 
ably  towards  the  ocean  at  the  end  of  the  earth,  it 
must  then  finish  its  course,  be  extinguished  in 
the  waters  that  surround  us,  and  leave  the  world  in 
cold  and  darkness,  necessarily  producing  universal 
death  and  destruction.  I  have  lived  seven  of  those 
hours;  a  great  age,  being  no  less  than  420  min- 


FRANKLIN'S  WORKS.  |?<J 

utes  of  time  !  How  very  few  of  us  continue  so 
long!  I  have  seen  generations  born,  flourish  and 
expire.  My  present  friends  are  children  and  grand 
children  of  the  friends  of  my  youth,  who  are  now, 
alas,  no  more  !  And  I  must  soon  follow  them ;  for 
by  the  common  course  of  nature,  though  still  in 
health,  I  cannot  expect  to  live  above  seven  or  eight 
minutes  longer.  What  now  avails  all  my  toil  and 
labor,  in  amassing  the  honey  dew  on  this  leaf, 
which  I  cannot  live  to  enjoy  1  What  my  political 
struggles  I  have  been  engaged  in,  for  the  good  of 
my  compatriot  inhabitants  of  this  bush,  or  my  phil 
osophical  studies,  for  the  benefit  of  our  race  in  gen 
eral  ;  for  in  politics  (what  can  laws  do  without  mor 
als?)  our  present  race  of  ephemeras  will  in  a  course 
of  minutes  become  corrupt  like  those  of  other  and 
older  bushes,  and  consequently  as  wretched !  And 
in  philosophy  how  small  our  progress !  Alas !  art 
is  long,  and  life  is  short !  My  friends  would  com 
fort  me  with  the  idea  of  a  name,  they  say,  I  shall 
leave  behind  me ;  and  they  tell  me  I  have  lived 
long  enough  to  nature  and  to  glory.  But  what  will 
fame  be  to  an  ephemera  who  no  longer  exists  ? 
and  what  will  become  of  all  history  in  the  eighteenth 
hour,  when  the  world  itself,  even  the  whole  Moulin 
Joly,  shall  come  to  its  end,  and  be  buried  in  a 
universal  ruin  1" 

To  me,  after  all  my  eager  pursuits,  no  solid  pleas 
ures  now  remain,  but  the  reflection  of  a  long  fife 


180 


FRANKLIN'S  WORKS. 


spent  in  meaning  well,  the  sensible  conversation  of 
a  few  good  lady  ephemerae,  and  now  and  then  a 
kind  smile  and  a  tune  from  the  ever  amiable  Bril 
liant 

B.  FRANKLIN. 


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